Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Inter-Linking Of Peninsular Rivers In The Country. on 27 July, 2016
Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title: Regarding inter-linking of Peninsular rivers in the country.
SHRI M. UDHAYAKUMAR (DINDIGUL): Madam, I thank you for the opportunity given to me to speak on an important subject.
The nation has just heaved a sigh of relief provided by above normal monsoon rainfall all this year across the country. For the present there is no threat of drought or famine even in vulnerable pockets like southern districts of Maharashtra, Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh and Vidarbha in Marathwada region which are prone to suffer by natural calamities.
Tamil Nadu has long been subjected to vagaries relating to denial of its share in river waters as a lower riparian State. Tamil Nadu has been waging a running struggle with its neighbours, Karnataka and Kerala, over sharing of river waters. Even with the provocative stance by both Karnataka and Kerala over release of waters from Cauvery and Mullai Periyar, Tamil Nadu is consistently known to have exercised utmost restraint in securing legitimate share of river waters as borne out by the fact that the hon. Supreme Court had passed orders upholding the rights of Tamil Nadu over its share of river waters as a lower riparian State.
In the backdrop, the Government of Tamil Nadu under the astute stewardship of Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, feels that the mega inter-linking of river projects should be revived. Tamil Nadu had good neighbourly relations with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and with their active support an attempt could be made by the Centre to take up the project in phases.
HON. SPEAKER: Please conclude.
SHRI M. UDHAYAKUMAR : I will conclude in a minute.
To start with, a Southern Regional River Grid could be taken up to link up Mahanadi-Godavari-Krishna and Pennar river and diversion of surplus water of the west flowing Pamba and Achankovil rivers to Vaipper in Tamil Nadu.
On behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu and our hon. Chief Minister, I urge the Centre to consider this proposal in the right earnest.
HON. SPEAKER: Shrimati V. Sathyabama is permitted to associate with the issue raised by Shri M. Udhayakumar.
Now Shri C. Mahendran.
How many pages do you have? Is it one page or two pages? You people bring in writing. Do not read everything.