Madras HC Seeks Status Update on Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar Link Canal Project

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Engineer-in-Chief of the Water Resources Department in Chennai to appear before the court, either in person or via video conference. This is to provide an update on the status of the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar Link Canal Project.

A bench of Justices R. Suresh Kumar and G. Arul Murugan was hearing a petition filed by one Murugesan, who seeks the intra-linking of the Cauvery, Agniyaru, and South Vellar rivers by constructing appropriate canals from the Mayanur barrage, which is situated across the Cauvery at Mayanur village in Karur.

The division bench noted that the government pleader has stated that the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar Link Canal Project is planned to be undertaken in three phases: Phase-I from Cauvery to South Vellar (0 km to 118.45 km), Phase-II from South Vellar to Vaigai (118.45-228.145 km), and Phase-III from Vaigai to Gundar (228.145-262.19 km). The project is to be implemented in Karur, Tiruchy, and Pudukottai.

Regarding Phase-I, the court observed that while some preliminary or initial work appears to have been completed, it will still take a considerable amount of time to finish, covering the 118.45 km stretch. The court further requested detailed information from the concerned department on the allocation of funds, the work completed to date, the current status of the project, and the remaining work to be undertaken, including land acquisition and the construction of the canal for the link project.