Mysuru: Save Kukkarahalli Lake Action Committee Convener K.M. Jayaramaiah has requested the State Government to urge the Centre to implement ‘Peninsular River Development Plan’ that facilitates linking of  Mahanadhi and Godavari rivers, thereby providing 150 tmcft excess water to Cauvery River.

In separate letters to Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and Chamarajanagar MP R. Dhruvanarayan, Jayaramaiah said that the people of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been agitating for sharing Cauvery water for decades and this has created animosity between the two States.

“I request you to urge the Central Government to implement the Peninsular River Development Plan,” he said.

Dr. K.L. Rao, former Union Minister, had projected an idea of linking of River Ganga with River Cauvery in 1972. Now, many organisations and individuals are urging the Government to link rivers. Time has come to implement the project as the Government of India has announced Rs. 5.5 lakh crore scheme to connect some of the country’s biggest rivers and this ambitious project has been launched to end deadly floods and droughts.

“In this connection, I request you to talk to concerned Union Minister as well as officials to begin the work to get 150 TMC feet of excess water from Mahanadhi and Godavari Rivers to Cauvery River under the banner of “Peninsular River Development Plan,” Jayaramaiah stated in his letter.