TN CM calls for nationalising, interlinking of rivers

New Delhi, Dec 9: 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 in New Delhi, a copy of which was released to the media here today, 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. Mr Karunanidhi said the country had been witnessing failure of agriculture in drought-prone and water-starved areas on the one hand and facing heavy damages caused by floods and flow of more than 40,000 tmc of unutilised water to the sea, on the other. ''But the Indian paradox is that we have been fighting among ourselves for a mere one tmc or two tmc of water for irrigation and drinking'', he said and added that the success of the 11th Plan would depend on the ability to revitalise the agriculture sector.

''The agriculture sector should be revitalised by creating new irrigation potential to ensure that farmers get sustained income and contribute to the country's economy'', he added.

Mr Karunanidhi said interlinking of the rivers would not only be a flood control measure, but would also provide irrigation potential to drought-prone and water-starved areas and sustain agricultural growth.

It would also provide continuous employment to the rural poor and would get more hydro power at cheaper rates.

UNI