Tamil Nadu Demands Speedy Interlinking of Rivers.

The Tamil Nadu government Rrecently strongly urged the Central government to execute inter-linking of rivers without waiting for a consensus since the Supreme Court had already ordered the project’s speedy implementation.

'The Centre should take up the Project under National Perspective Plan as in the case of Ganga Rejuvenation Project. Otherwise, the interlinking of rivers project will be a non-starter. In our view, waiting for developing a consensus with non-consenting States would delay the project,' Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said in his speech, read out by PWD Secretary NS Palaniappan, at the second meeting of the Special Committee for inter-linking of rivers, held at New Delhi.

The Chief Minister said that, in the interest of the Nation, the Committee should draw a specific time bound Action Plan immediately so that this project of utmost national importance could be implemented speedily and effectively.

The Chief Minister further said with regard to Mahanadhi-Godavari-Krishna-Palar-Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar link for which a Feasibility Report was completed long back by National Water Development Agency (NWDA), preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) should be taken up without further delay and the work of interlinking be started, immediately.

The NWDA had prepared the Project Report for Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar Link after assessing the yield and demand of Kerala including its future requirements as well. The diversion proposed to Tamil Nadu is only about 22 TMC ft of water, which is 20 per cent of the surplus flows, as assessed by NWDA. 'However, Kerala argues that it is against the interlinking of rivers. As this link is beneficial to both the States, the Special Committee should instruct NWDA for the preparation of DPR on a priority basis, so as to implement the link speedily', the Chief Minister added.

As the programme of interlinking of the Peninsular Rivers will be a long drawn out and time consuming process, the Government of Tamil Nadu had programmed to implement the linking of rivers within the State like Pennaiyar (Sathanur Dam) - Palar link, Pennaiyar (Nedungal Anicut) - Palar link, Cauvery (Mettur Dam) - Sarabanga link, Athikadavu - Avinashi Flood Canal Scheme and Thamirabarani - Karumeniyar - Nambiyar link. He further said that these schemes proposed by the Tamil Nadu government should be considered by the Centre for the purpose of extending financial assistance including the cost for land acquisition as well.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS