CM urges PM to fast-track Godavari-Cauvery-Gundar river link as national project

PRESS RELEASE Text of the D.O. Letter of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru S. Joseph Vijay addressed to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Thiru Narendra Modi urging the speedy implementation of the Godavari-Cauvery-Gundar Link Project I would like to bring to your kind notice that the State of Tamil Nadu is inherently deficient in surface water resources and depends upon neighbouring States for more than 30 percent of its water requirements. Groundwater resources have also been exploited to critical levels, with several regions continuing to experience over-exploitation despite the sustained regulatory and conservation measures undertaken by the State Government. The Godavari–Cauvery–Gundar Link represents the most significant long-term opportunity for augmenting Tamil Nadu's surface water resources, and is of vital importance to redress the growing needs of drinking water and irrigation for the population of Tamil Nadu. The southern districts of Tamil Nadu, particularly Pudukkottai, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar, are chronically water-scarce and highly drought-prone. The most sustainable means of addressing their growing water requirements, therefore, would be the implementation of the Godavari–Cauvery–Vaigai–Gundar Link Project, which would facilitate the transfer of surplus floodwaters from water-surplus basins to water-deficit regions. The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has prepared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Godavari–Pennar–Palar–Vellar Link as Phase I of the larger project. This component is envisaged to benefit Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. However, the alignment covered by the DPR presently terminates a few kilometres upstream of the Cauvery River. Therefore, I request that the project of inter-linking the Godavari–Cauvery–Gundar rivers, which is a project of national importance, be taken up on priority basis. I am confident that this project can be achieved and differences between States can be resolved through constructive consultation and cooperative federalism, keeping in view the larger national interest. I request that, considering the strategic importance and far-reaching socio-economic benefits of the project, the Godavari–Cauvery–Gundar Link Project be taken up on a fast-track basis and given the status of a "project of national importance." The constitution of a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle, with the participation of the Government of India and the beneficiary States, may also be considered to facilitate coordinated implementation, assured funding and timely completion. Its early execution would benefit the people and farming communities of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The Government of Tamil Nadu remains fully committed to extending all necessary cooperation for the expeditious and successful implementation of this nationally important project. I therefore earnestly request you to direct the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the NWDA to: i. expedite consultations with the stakeholder States and facilitate an early consensus on outstanding issues; ii. finalise the DPR for extending the link up to the Kattalai Barrage across the river Cauvery; iii. accord priority to the project and take it up for implementation as a National Project on a fast-track basis; and iv. consider establishing a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle for its coordinated and time-bound execution, and declare the project as a project of national importance. Your personal intervention in this matter would contribute significantly to achieving long-term water security for the water-deficit regions of southern India and advancing the national objective of equitable and sustainable utilisation of our precious water resources. Released by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9