Chennai, Feb 10 (NationPress) The ambitious Rs 14,000-crore Nadanthaai Vaazhi Cauvery River restoration scheme, envisioned as a vital ecological and irrigation resource for Tamil Nadu, is projected to be delayed until after the upcoming Assembly elections due to various administrative and financial challenges, according to senior officials.

This delay has sparked political controversy, as AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has accused the DMK government of intentionally hindering the project.

During an NDA election campaign event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Maduranthakam, Palaniswami asserted that the scheme had already received approval from the Centre and criticized the state for inaction. However, senior officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD) clarified that procedural issues, rather than political factors, are causing the slow advancement.

“The finance department has yet to give the necessary approvals. Additionally, around 12 departments—including WRD, the water supply and drainage board, TNEB, and revenue—must work in coordination. Given the scale of the project, it is impractical to begin work before the elections,” explained a senior official.

Another official noted that the National River Conservation Directorate has allocated Rs 934 crore for the initial phase, with funding shared between the Centre and State at a ratio of 60:40. The Centre's contribution will amount to Rs 560 crore, while Tamil Nadu's share will be Rs 374 crore.

The first phase aims to restore the Cauvery from Mettur to Tiruchy, including essential tributaries such as Thirumanimuthar, Sarabanga, Bhavani, Amaravathi, and Noyyal, covering nearly 1,092 km. The remaining 214-km stretch from Tiruchy to the sea will be addressed in the subsequent phase.

Farmers in the delta region express that the project is long overdue. M. Ramasamy (52), a farmer from Tiruvarur, pointed out that industrialization and urban growth have significantly deteriorated water quality and availability. “Pollution has diminished fish populations, harmed crops, and affected drinking water. The river is no longer the same,” he stated, referencing past pollution reports that identified numerous sections of the Cauvery basin as highly contaminated.

The scheme includes plans for sewage treatment plants, common effluent treatment facilities for textile units, and improvements along the riverfront.

K.V. Elankeeran, president of the Federation of Cauvery Delta Farmers Association, remarked that tail-end districts like Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai often manage to cultivate only one crop season each year due to insufficient water flow. “If this project is executed, agriculture can be revitalized, allowing farmers to grow more than one season,” he stated.

For the time being, however, the eagerly awaited restoration project seems to be on hold until after the elections.