Land issues block river interlinking works: CM 

Participating in the debate, DMK legislator KN Nehru said that for the past eight years there is no progress on the interlinking of rivers. The projects like linking Godavari–Cauvery, Vaigai–Gundar, Pennar–Palar were just remaining on paper without any progress. Similarly, Pamba-Vaipar diversion and diversion of 2.5 TMC of water from Anamalaiyar to Tamil Nadu has been pending for years, Nehru noted.

Commenting about the agrarian crisis in Delta, Nehru said that the farmers based in Delta region have faced three monsoon failures and a cyclone affecting the local irrigation activities. The poor maintenance of ayacut canals and the polluted Uyyakondan river zipping through Tiruchy is an eyesore deteriorating the groundwater table. The former minister also alleged that the state has failed to conserve the surplus water released from Cauvery during the last year flash floods. More than 100 TMC of water was drained through Cauvery into the sea, despite repeated requests to the PWD officials chose not to drain the water through Kollidam as sand mafia was operating along the Kollidam river, Nehru alleged.

DMK leader Duraimurugan also echoed the views of Nehru and said that there was no transparency with the PWDofficials on the kudimaramathu projects.

“Since last year we are demanding the list of kudimaramathu projects being executed and the dimensions related to the projects, but the officials chose to ignore the MLAs and there is no clarity on when and where the water body is desilted and how the alluvial soil is disposed,” Duraimurugan said.

Responding to the issue, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who holds the portfolio of PWD and irrigation, said all the project details are updated on the government website for transparency. Regarding the interlinking projects, he explained that the land acquisition has become a tough process delaying the massive long-term projects. Most of the interlinking projects are marred by the revised land acquisition laws and the identified lands belong to farmers.

The state is trying to convince farmers, but the project will be expedited only if the farmers agree to give their lands for the interlinking projects, CM explained.

Regarding the Parambikulam – Aliyar project and the Pamba – Achankoil Vaipar link, Palaniswami clarified that Tamil Nadu is ready for the project, but neighbouring Kerala is yet to give its consent for the projects. These delayed projects will be taken up after getting the consent of Kerala, the CM noted.