Tamil Nadu stands first to implement inter-linking of Rivers: Karunanidhi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has said that the sate was the first in the Country to implement inter-linking of rivers to prevent water from flowing into the Bay of Bengal. Mr Karunanidhi also called for conserving rain water.

Inaugurating a conference on Sunday on 'Water Management of Ancient Tamils', organised by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil here, Mr Karunanidhi said as part of inter-linking of rivers, work on Cauvery, Kattalai Channel, Kadavanai project, Tamirabarani and Nambiyarm projects were underway.

Stressing the need for saving the rain water, Chief Minister said the state government had been launching water management schemes in line with the methods of ancient Tamils.

Noting that researchers had said several problems would arise across the globe due to water scarcity, Mr Karunanidhi said to tide over this the water resources had to be handled efficiently.

Highlighting various water saving schemes implemented during the DMK regime, he said Tamil Nadu was the first state in the country to start intra-state water linking programme.

In the past, water was stored in reservoirs dug into the earth for agriculture, drinking water and domestic purpose as the goal of the ancestors was to conserve water.

''Irrigation is an imperative necessity and its practice is of the earliest antiquity in the South. Construction of irrigation system and organized irrigation began in South during the megalithic times.

''The ‘tank’ system was traditionally the backbone of agricultural production and tanks were constructed either by bunds or by excavating the ground and collecting rainwater. In ancient times, tanks, lakes, channels, canals and other water bodies were made to save rainwater,'' he said, adding the stored water was later used for irrigation.

From ancient literature like Tholkappiam, the concept of building small dams and check dams across waterways was known, he added.

''Even from scriptures and other sources we learn about water management skills and efficiency of ancient Tamils,'' he further said.

At the function Mr Karunanidhi also presented 'Porkili Awards', instituted by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, to 17 Tamil scholars.

- Asian Tribune -