Context:

Recently, the Supreme Court disposed of the application filed by the Karnataka government on the Cauvery-South Vellar Link project after observing that the Union government is yet to grant ‘in-principle approval’ to the project. 

More on the News

• The application stemmed from an original suit filed by Karnataka against Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court accusing Tamil Nadu of “wrongful appropriation” of its Cauvery water.
• The Karnataka government has accused the Tamil Nadu government of violating the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in 2007 and a subsequent judgment from the Supreme Court in 2018. 
• However, the Bench disposed of the application while observing it was not necessary to consider Karnataka’s interim plea for injunction as the request by Tamil Nadu for project clearance has still not received the in-principle approval of the Centre.
• Earlier, in January 2021, the Tamil Nadu government had written to the Jal Shakti Ministry for in-principle approval to the Cauvery-South Vellar Link project and for the declaration of the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar Link project as a national project. 

About Cauvery-South Vellar Link Project

The Cauvery-South Vellar Link Project is part of the larger Cauvery (Kattalai)-Vaigai-Gundar project. 

The Cauvery (Kattalai)-Vaigai-Gundar project is a 262-km link canal which seeks to divert surplus flows from the Cauvery to the water-scarce southern parts of the State by building a canal from the Cauvery to the South Vellar, the Vaigai and finally the Gundar.

It is implemented proposed to be implemented under 3 Phases:

• Phase I: Cauvery – South Vellar (118.45 km) 
• Phase II: South Vellar – Vaigai (109.50 km) 
• Phase III: Vaigai- Gundar (33.41 km)

Under the first phase, the canal will be built from the Mayanur barrage at Cauvery to the South Vellar — a distance of about 118.45 km — at an estimated cost of ₹6,941 crore.

The larger Cauvery (Kattalai)-Vaigai-Gundar project is an important component of the Peninsular Rivers Development Component under the National Perspective Plan.

Significance of the Project

• The project aims to address water scarcity in southern Tamil Nadu by diverting surplus water from the Cauvery River to the South Vellar, Vaigai, and Gundar rivers. 
• The first phase of the project is expected to irrigate 42,170 acres and feed 342 irrigation tanks in Karur, Tiruchi and Pudukottai districts, thus enhancing agricultural productivity. 

Hurdles in the project 

• The Cauvery River has been a long-standing source of inter-state disputes, with unresolved water-sharing agreements and court rulings.
• The controversy surrounding the Cauvery-South Vellar Link project may influence electoral politics in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, affecting public opinion and political strategies in both states.
• The project raises environmental issues, such as potential impacts on local ecosystems and agriculture, emphasizing the need for sustainable water management to balance development with environmental preservation.