Archive · 7 Aug 2026
CM Vijay urges Modi to expedite Godavari-Cauvery-Gundar river link
The leader of a big Indian state called Tamil Nadu wrote a letter to India's Prime Minister.
He asked the Prime Minister to help build a huge water project that would connect several rivers.
Tamil Nadu does not have enough water of its own.
It has to get more than 30 percent of its water from other states.
Some parts of the state, like Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram, are very dry and often have droughts.
The project would move extra water from rivers with lots of water to areas that need it more.
The leader wants the whole country to treat this as a very important project and build it quickly.
He also suggested making a special team to manage it with the central government and other states.
If it happens, it could help farmers and people in Tamil Nadu and its neighbours.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite the Godavari–Cauvery–Gundar river link project in a letter on Wednesday.
Vijay said Tamil Nadu has an inherent deficiency in surface water resources and depends on neighbouring states for over 30 percent of its water requirements.
The project would transfer surplus floodwaters from water-surplus basins to water-deficit, drought-prone southern districts such as Pudukkottai, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar.
The National Water Development Agency has prepared the Detailed Project Report for the Godavari–Pennar–Palar–Vellar Link as Phase I, which currently ends a few kilometres upstream of the Cauvery River.
Vijay requested 'project of national importance' status, fast-track implementation, a Special Purpose Vehicle, and finalisation of the DPR to extend the link to the Kattalai Barrage.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, with the letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- What
- Demand for expeditious implementation of the Godavari–Cauvery–Gundar river link project to augment Tamil Nadu's water resources
- When
- Letter sent on Wednesday (exact date not stated)
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, with benefits projected for Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka; project spans rivers including the Godavari and Cauvery
- Why
- Tamil Nadu faces chronic surface water deficiency, critical groundwater exploitation and droughts in its southern districts
- Project
- Godavari–Cauvery–Gundar Link Project (also referred to as Godavari–Cauvery–Vaigai–Gundar Link)
- Requested by
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay
- Addressed to
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Tamil Nadu's external water dependence
- Over 30 percent of water requirements from neighbouring states
- Drought-prone districts cited
- Pudukkottai, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar
- Phase I DPR
- Godavari–Pennar–Palar–Vellar Link, prepared by NWDA, terminating upstream of the Cauvery River
- Requested status
- Project of national importance with fast-track implementation
- Proposed mechanism
- Special Purpose Vehicle with the Government of India and beneficiary states