River linking project trickles along

When about one tmc of water went down the drain when a shutter in Krishnagiri Reservoir collapsed during this monsoon season, the lack of a link between Thenpennai river with Cheyyar or Palar rivers was acutely felt. However, the inter-linking of state rivers has been stressed for decades, since the monsoon showers are not uniform, resulting in floods in some parts and drought in others.

The state government had taken up numerous projects, but farmers say they are moving at a very slow pace and needed to be expedited, since inter-linking of rivers within the state is the first step before connecting peninsular rivers. “Besides serving the irrigation and drinking water needs of drought prone areas, such a link would be a flood diversion arrangement, minimising flood damages,” said PR Pandian, president of the Coordination Committee of All Tamil Nadu Farmers Association.

He said the irrigation programmes are not given the importance theydeserve and the allocated amount for the projects is not spent in a proper manner. The river linking projects would improve the ground water table in the state, he added.

However, PWD officials say all the major projects had taken off and are at various phases of implementation. Some of the projects had been partially completed, while project reports are being prepared for the others.

Southern belt

In the southern region, the Thamirabarani—Karumeniyar–Nambiyar project had been taken up for the benefit of 56,098 acres of land in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts. It is being carried out by excavating a new flood carrier canal from the existing Kannadian channel near Vellankuzhi village to Their near Thisayanvilai. In the first stage, nine packages out of 18 has been completed and seven packages of the total 18 in the second phase too have been finished. Land acquisition for the third and fourth phase of the project is on.

Central region

Cauvery — Agniyar —South Vellar—Manimuthar —Vaigai – Gundar link is the major project in the Central region. The first phase of the project which comprised the construction of a barrage across river Cauvery near Mayanur had been completed. Under the Pennaiyar –Cheyyar link, a new canal for a length of 23 km will be dug from Sathanur Dam and connect with the Cheyyar river at upstream of Alathur anicut. Besides, a branch canal of length 28 km leading from the main canal will link the Thurinjalar river. Investigation works for preparation of detailed project report based on the New Land Acquisition Act is in progress.

Northern belt

Another scheme in the northern region, Pennaiyar – Palar link aims to divert 3.5 tmc feet of flood waters of Pennaiyar river to Palar river during the months of October to December. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for this scheme is under scrutiny of the National Water Development Authority.

Cauvery—Sarabanga—Thirumanimuthar — Ayyar link, another major project in the state and plans to divert a portion of surplus water of river Cauvery to Salem, Namakkal, Perambalur and Tiruchy districts by excavating a new canal.

A preliminary DPR for the work of excavation of link canal for a length of 132 km from Mettur Dam to Pavithram tank had been prepared at an estimated cost of Rs.6,800 crore.

The inter-linking of rivers should be time bound and a time frame should be fixed for each project, said CPI state secretary R Mutharasan. Tamil Nadu remains the lower anicut basin for all the rivers and the water in the river only flows into the sea. So, no other state would raise objections for the inter-linking of rivers and Centre should provide sufficient funds for them, he said.