TN CM Edappadi K Palaniswami hopes to get 125 tmc from Godavari-Cauvery link project

“Tamil Nadu will get 125 tmc of water once the linking of the rivers gets done. The Union Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari proposed interlinking of rivers to solve the water crisis. The excess water which drains into the sea from the Godavari will be routed to Tamil Nadu through Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It will be used by farmers from ‘Mayanur Kattalai Kathavanai,” said the Chief Minister.

Delving further into the issue, Palaniswami said, “All water resources of Tamil Nadu originate from other states; Cauvery in Karnataka, Mullai Periyar in Kerala and Palar in Andhra Pradesh. Hence the state needs to be dependent on other states for water.”

The Chief Minister said that a new scheme is underway to take surplus water from Mettur to Namakkal and Tiruchy through a canal for the convenience of farmers.

“It has been proposed to build new check dams across Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore to improve the groundwater table. Works for the same will begin soon at Rs 350 crore. Also, about 1,514 ponds were chosen for ‘kudimaramathu’ (desilting) works in the second phase. It has been decided to take up these works by roping in farmers,” said Palaniswami. He was speaking after inaugurating a flyover from AVR roundabout to Kuranguchavadi on the Namakkal-Salem-Bengaluru national highway at an outlay of Rs 86 crore in Salem district.

He also laid a foundation stone for bypass road in Tharamangalam and inaugurated new police stations at Attur Town and Karumandurai.

On the proposed green corridor project connecting Chennai and Salem, the Chief Minister said that there will be industrial growth only if the infrastructure of a nation develops.

“The green corridor project will reduce fuel and travel time. A modern bus port and defence corridor are coming up in Salem district. Such projects will create better business avenues and generate employment opportunities for youngsters,” he said. The Chief Minister also said that Tamil Nadu has been in the forefront in agriculture, medicine, education and health sectors in the nation.