Tamil Nadu CM Vijay urges PM Modi to fast-track Godavari-Cauvery link

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite the Godavari-Cauvery-Gundar river linking project. He said the project is vital for Tamil Nadu's water security and deserves national importance status.Shivakumar also dismissed allegations that his government was favouring Tamil Nadu or the ruling TVK. (File Photo: ITG)Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speed up the implementation of the Godavari-Cauvery-Gundar river linking project and declare it a project of national importance.In a letter to the Prime Minister, he sought direct intervention to ensure long-term drinking water and irrigation security for southern India.Vijay said Tamil Nadu has an inherent surface water deficit and depends on neighbouring states for more than 30 per cent of its water needs.He said the proposed river link was the most significant long-term opportunity to increase the state's surface water resources and address the growing demand for drinking water and irrigation. In his letter, the Chief Minister said, "Groundwater resources have also been exploited to critical levels, with several regions continuing to experience over-exploitation despite the sustained regulatory and conservation measures undertaken by the state government."He added, "The Godavari-Cauvery-Gundar Link represents the most significant long term opportunity for augmenting Tamil Nadu's surface water resources. It is of vital importance to redress the growing needs of drinking water and irrigation for the population in Tamil Nadu." He also said, "The southern districts of Tamil Nadu, particularly Pudukkottai, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar, are chronically water-scarce and highly drought-prone".Vijay said the most sustainable way to meet the growing water needs of these regions would be the implementation of the Godavari-Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar link project, which would allow the transfer of surplus floodwaters from water-surplus basins to water-deficit regions.He said, "The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has prepared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Godavari-Pennar-Palar-Vellar Link as phase one of the larger project."He added, "This component is envisaged to benefit Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu," but noted that "the alignment covered by the DPR presently terminates a few kilometres upstream of the Cauvery River".Urging quick action, he said, "Therefore, may I request that the project of inter-linking of Godavari-Cauvery-Gundar rivers which is a project of national importance be taken up on a priority basis."He added, "I am confident that this project can be achieved and differences between states can be resolved through constructive consultation and cooperative federalism, keeping in view the larger national interest and I request that, considering the strategic importance and far-reaching socio-economic benefits of the project, Godavari-Cauvery-Gundar Link Project be taken up on a fast-track basis and may be given the status of a project of national importance".The Chief Minister also said a dedicated special purpose vehicle with the participation of the Centre and the beneficiary states could be considered to ensure coordinated implementation, assured funding and timely completion.He said, "It's early execution would benefit the people and farming communities of Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka" and assured that the Tamil Nadu government would extend all necessary cooperation for the project's speedy and successful implementation.In his closing appeal, Vijay asked the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the NWDA to speed up consultations with stakeholder states, help build an early consensus on pending issues, finalise the DPR for extending the link up to the Kattalai Barrage across the Cauvery, accord priority to the project, implement it as a national project on a fast-track basis, consider setting up a dedicated special purpose vehicle, and declare it a project of national importance.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 6, 2026 23:45 IST