(Rpt correcting second para)

New Delhi, Dec 9 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today urged the National Development Council (NDC) to recommend nationalisation and inter-linking of rivers, particularly the Southern Peninsular component, and ensure its inclusion and funding in the 11th Plan itself.

In his address at the NDC meeting, he said time has come now to act in this direction.

''We have been talking for the last 50 years about nationalisation of rivers and linking them. But, now the time has come for us to act, or else the future generations will not forgive us'', he added.

Observing that Interlinking of Peninsular rivers had no international ramifications, Mr Karunanidhi said the National Water Development Agency had completed feasibility studies on interlinking of the Peninsular rivers and assessed it as viable.

''In a country like India, where technology is improving and new technologies are coming in, it is possible even to harness major rivers for our beneficial use'', he said and urged the NDC to recommend nationalisation and Inter-linking of the rivers, particularly the Southern Peninsular component.

Mr Karunanidhi's remarks assumed significance in the backdrop of the vexed Mullaiperiyar Dam row with neighbouring Kerala, which had refused to honour the Supreme Court order directing Tamil Nadu to raise the storage level from 136 ft to 142 ft.

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