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Cauvery River Disputes • Tamil Nadu Water Projects • Supreme Court on Inter-State Water • River Linking • Karnataka Objections

Cauvery-South Vellar Link Project: A Stalled Solution to Tamil Nadu’s Water Woes

The ambitious Cauvery-South Vellar Link Project, proposed by Tamil Nadu to combat recurring water scarcity, remains on hold as the Union government has yet to provide in-principle approval, more than four years after the initial request in January 2021. Recently, the Supreme Court declined Karnataka’s plea for an interim injunction, citing the absence of central clearance. The case once again underlines the complexities of inter-state river water sharing in India.

🌊 Project Overview: Linking Rivers, Redirecting Hope

• Designed to divert surplus water from the Cauvery River to the South Vellar River.
• Involves construction of a canal from Mettur Dam to the Sarabanga basin (Salem district).
• Estimated cost: ₹565 crore.
• Purpose: Alleviate water stress in southern Tamil Nadu, support irrigation, and improve domestic and industrial supply.

⚖️ Karnataka’s Objections: Constitutional & Legal Tensions

• Karnataka claims the project would violate water-sharing agreements and Supreme Court directives.
• The state views the move as unilateral and unconstitutional, alleging a breach of federal principles.
• However, the Supreme Court clarified it will not intervene without Centre’s clearance.

🛠️ Phased Implementation Plan

The Cauvery-South Vellar Link is part of a broader river interlinking strategy under the National Perspective Plan.

Phases:

1. Phase I: Canal from Cauvery to Vaigai – 118.45 km
2. Phase II: Vaigai to South Vellar – 109.5 km
3. Phase III: Vaigai to Gundar – 34.04 km

➡️ Total Canal Length: 262.19 km
➡️ Designed Capacity: 6,000 cusecs of water

🌾 Agricultural and Regional Benefits

• Irrigation potential: 3.38 lakh hectares of farmland
• Supports domestic and industrial water supply, especially during dry seasons
• Expected to transform Tamil Nadu’s drought-prone belts

🗺️ Geographical Context

• The Cauvery originates in Karnataka, flows through Tamil Nadu, and drains into the Bay of Bengal.
• The Vaigai River rises near Madurai and flows into the Palk Bay.
• The Gundar River further supports water needs in southern Tamil Nadu.

🧑‍⚖️ Legal Landscape and Political Dynamics

The project reignites long-standing Tamil Nadu-Karnataka disputes over Cauvery water:

• Karnataka maintains that any diversion violates prior legal rulings.
• Tamil Nadu insists the project addresses surplus water not covered under tribunal rulings.
• Centre’s approval is pivotal for the project’s future, as legal and political tensions simmer.

🔮 What Lies Ahead?

The future of the Cauvery-South Vellar Link hinges on the Union government’s nod. If approved, it promises to transform Tamil Nadu’s water security, but not without further legal hurdles and inter-state negotiations.