The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Plan to modernise Cauvery delta zone

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Friday, Nov 28, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Plan to modernise Cauvery delta zone

Special Correspondent

It will benefit
17 lakh acres
100-year-old regulators to
be improved

CHENNAI: A task force, constituted by the State government, has proposed a Rs.5,100-crore project to modernise the Cauvery delta zone.

The 14-member task force , headed by K. Nagarajan, Tiruchi region chief engineer, submitted its report to Public Works and Law Minister Durai Murugan on Thursday.

It functioned under the guidance of A. Mohanakrishnan, advisor (water resources) to the State government, says an official release.

Banks to be strengthened

Covering the Cauvery-Vennar delta, the Grand Anicut canal and the Lower Coleroon system, the project will benefit 17 lakh acres.

It envisages improvements to 100-year-old regulators, construction of new ones, lining of rivers and channels and strengthening of the banks of watercourses, besides improving the bunds and making them fit for inspection tracks. An official said the most important aspect of the recommendation was the improvement of the delta system through more inlet and outlet points of drainage channels and by upgrading those canals that conveyed water straight into the sea. On-farm development works had also been proposed.

The official recalled that in the 1980s, Mr. Mohanakrishnan had worked on a similar project and prepared a report, which was to have been posed to the World Bank for funding.

But the inter-State controversy over the Cauvery water came in the way, and the Centre did not clear the project. At that time, the coverage was only for 1.7 lakh acres, and the project cost was pegged at Rs. 450 crore.

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