TN plans Rs 4,000 cr river linking project

The Tamil Nadu government has proposed to link Cauvery river with Agniar, South Vellar, Pambar, Mani Muthar, Vaigai and Gundar rivers for better flood management and utilisation of surplus water for irrigation.

According to a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister by chief minister J Jayalalithaa, such inter-basin transfer of flood flows will benefit the rainfed areas of drought-prone districts by creating a waterways grid. The cost of this project would be Rs 4,000 crore.

Of the five inland waterways notified by the Centre, the stretch of 132 km between Pulicat lake to Puducherry falls in the state. “Our government, with the help of the Centre, proposes to make it a navigable waterway, which can be an economical and popular mode of transport for commercial goods, passenger movement and tourism development. This project will cost Rs 650 crore,” it said.