‘Tamil Nadu smart waterways project only viable solution’

Tiruchy: The Tamil Nadu Smart Waterways Project (TSWP), conceived by a group of experts led by Madurai based civil engineer A.C. Kamaraj is the only viable solution for the existing water crisis in Tamil Nadu, said Mr Kamaraj in a discussion with DC.

The water situation in Tamil Nadu is getting worse day by day. Both people and cattle find themselves short of drinking water. The Tamil Nadu Government has to pay Rs 362 crore to buy water from Andhra Pradesh for Chennai. This is in addition to what we are paying to get 12 tmc feet water to meet Chennai’s drinking water needs alone. With the recent increase in farmers’ suicides in Karnataka, that government is prepared to go against the Cauvery Tribunal accord in not releasing the agreed water to Tamil Nadu, according to Mr.Kamaraj.

Mr. Kamaraj told DC that the only long term option for Tamil Nadu is to contain as much water as possible during the period of availability, either from natural rainfall or from flood discharges from Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The Tamil Nadu Smart Waterways Project (TSWP) proposes to build such an infrastructure to provide a permanent solution to the long standing water crisis in the state. This project was presented to Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa during her previous tenure.

Though Ms.Jayalalithaa sanctioned a study as an innovative and multipurpose project, there was no follow up action from the Government of Tamil Nadu till today, he added, and urged Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to implement this project on a war footing.

Mr Kamaraj pointed out that they had recently had detailed discussions with the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, both of whom are willing to take up Smart Waterways for their states.

Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh waterways will guarantee permanent supply of water for the TSWP since the Godavari alone discharges nearly 3,000 tmc ft of flood water into the sea every year.

He pointed out that when the Cauveri is in spate, the Vaigai suffers heavy water shortage and hence the project is most viable.