Farmers association welcomes Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s move on linking Godavari-Cauvery-Gundar rivers

The Southern Districts Farmers Association has expressed its support for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to approve the Godavari-Cauvery-Gundar river linking project. The association's representative, R. Ram Pandian, highlighted that the project could benefit the northern districts of Tamil Nadu, but not the southern districts, which would still face water shortages.

Pandian emphasized that the project should be executed according to the original plan of interlinking the Cauvery, Vaigai, and Gundar rivers to provide a permanent water source for over 100,000 acres of farmland in districts like Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, and Thoothukudi. The current drought-like conditions in these districts have led to water scarcity for irrigation and drinking purposes, adversely affecting farmers and cattle.

By utilizing the 1,100 TMC of water from the Godavari basin, which is currently wasted into the sea, the project could help meet the water demands of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Pondicherry. The association urged the central government to consider this demand and implement the project in its entirety to enhance the state's water resources.