The Hindu : Front Page : Government plans to link rivers in State

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Wednesday, Nov 07, 2007
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Government plans to link rivers in State

S. Vydhianathan

PWD study gives priority to linking the Cauvery with the Vaigai for providing water to dry districts

— File Photo

A view of the Kattalai bed regulator near Mayanur in Karur district.

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Government is planning to link rivers within the State to divert surplus water to drought-prone regions.

A macro analysis has been done by the Public Works Department for taking up proposals to divert flood water to dry basins. The analysis gave priority to linking the Cauvery with the Vaigai not only to mitigate flooding in the Cauvery basins but also to provide water to dry districts such as Pudukottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar.

According to a proposal, the existing Kattalai bed regulator across the Cauvery near Karur will be converted into a barrage for flood water storage, regulation and better water management. For linking the rivers, a canal is to be excavated from the Kattalai barrage to Gundar, connecting Agniar, South Vellar, Pambar and Kottakariyar Vaigai River with Gundar in phases. The total length of the canal will be 255 km.

According to a PWD official, a study of the surplus details of the Mettur reservoir from 1975 to the present found that the reservoir surplussed in 15 years for five to 81 days. Though the dependability is low at 45 per cent, diversion can be attempted even where there is sudden rainfall in the delta region and when there are pre-releases from the reservoir in the river. The pre-released flows in the river up to the regulator can be stored in the Kattalai barrage and diverted to the new canal.

The link will not only divert Cauvery flood waters, but also the waters of Ariyar and Koraiyar during the northeast monsoon to protect the Tiruchi and Srirangam towns. Karur, Tiruchi, Pudukottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar districts will be benefited by the link, as there is a proposal to fill all tanks now fed through the existing anicut system with the diverted river water.

The official said the investigation work would have two phases. The first phase was for studying issues relating to construction of the barrage and canal excavation. The investigation, which is in progress, would be completed by March next year. The project cost of the first phase is likely to be Rs, 1,000 crore. In the second phase, study on the extension of canal would be taken up.

The scheme required 3,684 hectares of land. Of this 2,228 hectares was patta land, 1,416 hectares was poromboke and the balance was forest land, the official said.

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