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MADURAI, June 30

THE Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for nationalisation of all major rivers in the country and inter-linking them through canals.

The Chamber President, Mr S. Rethinavelu, in a statement here has said that there has been persistent dispute with Karnataka over release of Cauvery water for irrigation of delta lands in Tamail Nadu. According to the decision of the Cauvery River Authority, Karnataka should release 137 tmc water into Metur Dam in Tamil Nadu between June and September. But for the past many years Karnataka had never released to Tamil Nadu its share of Cauvery water, resulting in withering of crops in the Tamil Nadu delta areas.

He pointed out that a river cannot be sole property of the State where it originated. States through which the river flowed have equal rights over the river.

He lamented that during floods the excess water was freely let into the Tamil Nadu side, but once the monsoons failed, Tamil Nadu was forced to beg for water from Karnataka Government or plead with the Central Government for release of Cauvery water. If river water disputes are not settled amicably it might seriously impair national integration, he warned.

In order to find a lasting solution to such recurring problems over sharing of river water flowing through different States, all major rivers in the country should be nationalised and inter linked through canals.

Mr Rethinavelu said that almost every year a part of our nation suffered excessive damage to property and loss of thousands of precious lives from the ferocity of excessive rain and floods in the rivers, while at the same time acute scarcity conditions prevailed in another part.

If major rivers in the country are inter-linked through canals running to a distance of about 3,000 kms, the problem could be solved. Water would be made available for irrigation throughout the country at all seasons thus boosting foodgrains' output.

This project, estimated to cost around Rs 3,30,000 crore, would solve inter-State water sharing disputes and ensure equal and uniform distribution of river water among States. As a first step he felt major rivers in Southern part of the country, viz., Godavari, Mahanadhi, Krishna, North Pennar, Cauvery, Vaigai and Tambirabarani could be inter-linked under the project.

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