Chennai: Making a strong case for implementation of inter-linking of rivers, the state government on Tuesday asked the Centre to take it up on the lines of the Ganga Rejuvenation project, saying waiting for consensus from states not supporting the idea would only delay it. The Tamil Nadu government feels that since the Supreme Court has ordered for speedy implementation of the inter-linking of rivers, the Centre has to take up the project under National Perspective Plan (NPP) as in the case of Ganga Rejuvenation Project, said Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said.

The state government made its pitch at the second meeting of the special committee for inter-linking of rivers at New Delhi on Tuesday where PWD secretary N.S. Palaniappan read out the speech of Panneerselvam. Mr Panneerselvam said inter-linking of rivers would be a non-starter if it were not taken up immediately. “In our view, waiting for reaching a consensus with non-consenting states will only delay the project,” he said. He urged Centre for a detailed project report (DPR) on Mahanadhi-Godavari-Krishna-Palar-Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar link for which National Water Development Agency (NWDA) had completed a feasibility report long back.

Further NWDA has prepared a project report for Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar Link after assessing the yield and demand of Kerala including its future requirements, he said. “The diversion proposed to Tamil Nadu is about 22 tmcft of water, which is 20 per cent of the surplus flows as assessed by NWDA. However, Kerala argues that it is against the inter-linking of rivers programme. As this link is beneficial to both the States, the Special Committee should instruct NWDA for the preparation of DPR on priority basis, so as to implement the link speedily,” he said.

The CM also sought the Centre’s assistance the linking of rivers within the state – Pennaiyar (Sathanur Dam) – Palar link, Pennaiyar (Nedungal Anicut) – Palar link, Cauvery (Mettur Dam) – Sarabanga link, Athikadavu – Avinashi Flood Canal Scheme and Thamirabarani – Karumeniyar – Nambiyar link. He said a specific time-bound action plan should be drawn by the Committee so that inter-linking of rivers was implemented ‘speedily and effectively.’ Panneerselvam recalled that his predecessor and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has been voicing support for this cause as early as from 1993.