Chennai: Chief Minister Vijay has sent a letter to Prime Minister Modi, requesting that appropriate orders be issued to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the National Water Development Agency to implement the Godavari - Cauvery - Gundaru river interlinking project.
The details of that letter: Tamil Nadu is naturally deficient in surface water resources and depends on neighboring states for more than 30 percent of its water needs.
Despite the state government’s continuous regulatory and protective measures, groundwater resources have been used to the extent that they have reached a worrying stage, and over-extraction continues in many areas.
The Godavari-Cauvery-Gundaru interlinking project stands as the most important long-term opportunity to augment Tamil Nadu’s surface water resources. This project is highly significant in meeting the growing drinking water and irrigation needs of the people of Tamil Nadu.
In Tamil Nadu, especially the southern districts of Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, and Virudhunagar, are continuously in a state of severe water scarcity and are highly vulnerable to drought. To meet the increasing water needs of those districts, implementing the Godavari–Cauvery–Vaigai–Gundaru interlinking project is essential as the best permanent solution. This project would make it possible to divert surplus floodwaters to water-scarce regions.
As the first phase of this major project, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has prepared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Godavari - Pennar - Palar - Vellar river-linking project. Although this project would benefit the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, the alignment route in the Detailed Project Report prepared at present ends a few kilometers before the Cauvery River. Therefore, I request that the nationally significant Godavari - Cauvery - Gundaru river-linking project be taken up on a priority basis instead.
Therefore, in the national interest, I am firmly confident that the inter-state differences can be resolved through constructive consultation and the principle of cooperative federalism, and this project can be implemented.
Considering the importance of this project and its socio-economic benefits, he has also requested that the Godavari–Cauvery–Gundaru link project be fast-tracked and granted the status of a “project of national importance.”
It may also be considered to create a dedicated 'Special Purpose Vehicle' with the participation of the Central Government and the beneficiary States, for the purpose of coordinated implementation, assured allocation of funds, and completion of the project within the stipulated time.
Expediting the implementation of this project will greatly benefit the people and farmers of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. The Government of Tamil Nadu is ready to extend all cooperation with full commitment necessary for the swift and successful implementation of this project, which is of national importance.
Therefore, the following directions should be issued to the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the National Water Development Agency (NWDA).
> Expedite consultations with the concerned beneficiary states and reach an early agreement on the pending issues.
> Finalize the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for extending this link up to the command barrage across the Cauvery River.
> Give priority to this project and take steps to implement it expeditiously as a project of national importance through the Fast Track Method.
> Considering the establishment of a special-purpose entity to implement this project in an integrated manner and within a specified timeframe, and declaring this project a project of national importance.
In the letter, Chief Minister Vijay has requested that you give this project your personal attention and make a significant contribution toward meeting the long-term water needs of the water-scarce regions of South India, as well as advancing the national goal of equitable and sustainable use of our abundant water resources.
