The Hindu : Front Page : Plan to tap Cauvery surplus flow for southern districts

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Friday, Aug 17, 2007
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Plan to tap Cauvery surplus flow for southern districts

T. Ramakrishnan

Detailed project report getting ready
Barrage, canal planned at Kattali

CHENNAI: The Public Works Department is preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for taking flood flows in the Cauvery to dry regions in the southern districts of the State.

The preparation of the DPR is a sequel to proposals of the Union Government’s National Water Development Agency (NWDA) to link rivers in the southern peninsula. The NWDA has prepared a feasibility report for the Mahanadhi-Godavari-Krishna-Pennar-Cauvery-Gundar link.

Using this report as the basis, the PWD has begun a detailed investigation of the part of the link that lies within Tamil Nadu. “It will be prudent for Tamil Nadu to go ahead with the networking of rivers in our State, pending the implementation of the NWDA’s main proposal,” S. Audhiseshiah, Public Works Secretary, told The Hindu.

Under the NWDA proposal, 136 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of water will be delivered at the Kattali Bed Regulator in Tamil Nadu. Of this, 56 tmcft is earmarked for use in the Cauvery system while 80 tmcft is set apart for the southern districts.

The agency has mooted the idea of forming a barrage at Kattalai, from where a canal will be dug for about 255 km. The canal will link the Cauvery with the Gundar and it will go through Pudukottai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts. As an initial component of this link, floodwater from Koraiyar, downstream of Tiruchi, will be linked with Agniyar through a canal of about 32 km.

Two factors have forced the State Government to take the decision. One, the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has been campaigning for interlinking of rivers in the country. The other reason is that in two of the last three years, considerable quantity of water has gone waste. In 2005, about 100 tmcft went into the sea. This year, the figure was around 40 tmcft.

In the last 15 years, on several occasions the State struggled hard to get its share of Cauvery water from Karnataka. The PWD authorities are taking steps to fill tanks in Thanjavur and Pudukottai districts, but they are aware of the limitations of this option. That is why diversion of surplus flows of the Cauvery is sought to be taken on a priority basis.

The PWD secretary says the DPR for the Koraiyar-Agniyar component is likely to be prepared in three months, after which the State Government will approach the Centre for clearance and funding.

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