Dhruvi Modi
The interlinking project of Mahanadi-Godavari-Krishna-Pennar-Palar-Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar Rivers began a decade ago, and is still incomplete. After failing to make its mark in Tamil Nadu, the BJP State Unit on twitter quoted Union Minister Nitin Gadkari: “My first job is to link Godavari and Krishna and this bring water to TamilNadu.”
According to a report, while campaigning for the elections earlier this year, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami assured the people that the project to link Godavari and Gundar will be completed by the Centre. The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) prepared a feasibility report which states that for the interlinking of these rivers, the State is expected to get 214 tmcft of water.
This proposal was made under the rule of the DMK almost a decade ago is not even half complete; it will still be sometime before some action will be seen on the ground. A special committee constituted by the Supreme Court for this purpose has held 14 meetings. In the meetings, the State has submitted alternative proposals and suggestions for the early implementation of the scheme. A statement by an official was mentioned in the report, which stated that it could take years before the project is complete.
Important Link
According to officials from the Public Works Department, the scheme to link Godavari-Cauvery is key to extend the utility of the project till the Vaigai and the Gundar Rivers have expanded irrigation. On the other hand, the government has only now realized that the linking of Tamirabarani-Karumeniyar-Nambiyar after appointing special tehsildars for the purpose of acquiring land. The project will benefit 33,298.07 acres in Tirunelveli and 23,610.73 acres in Thoothukudi.
The State has sought around Rs. 900 crore from the Centre for the completion of the scheme.
News Now Chennai 