Govt urges Centre to implement river-linking project

Chennai, Jan 20 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government today urged the Centre to implement the inter-linking of rivers project and make necessary allocation in the 11th Five Year Plan.

Delivering the customary address to the State Assembly, Governor S S Barnala said the project was the need of the hour for the water deficit states like Tamil Nadu.

He said the water resources, which were indispensable for agriculture, should be augmented to ensure sustainable growth and provide regular employment opportunities to the rural poor.

''In our country, we witness an anomalous situation where one region faces severe drought and another suffers immense damage due to floods. At the same time, enormous quantity of water flows into the sea every year benefiting none, with only a small quantity being used for agriculture,'' he noted.

Recalling Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's call for speedy implementation of the project at the NDC meeting, Mr Barnala said the State Government would continue to urge the Centre to implement this scheme expeditiously and make necessary allocation in the 11th Plan.

UNI