Godavari–Cauvery Interlinking
Why in news : The Union Jal Shakti Ministry’s Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers is scheduled to meet on July 15, 2025, to discuss the long-pending Godavari (Inchampalli)–Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link project. This project is expected to significantly benefit Tamil Nadu, especially in meeting its drinking water and irrigation needs.
However, Telangana has raised objections to the project, citing the pending adjudication of Krishna water allocation under KWDT-II, despite a 2013 verdict. Andhra Pradesh, on the other hand, supports the project unconditionally. The Centre hopes to forge a consensus among the stakeholder states.
The project includes three main link components:
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Godavari (Inchampalli)–Krishna (Nagarjunasagar)
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Krishna (Nagarjunasagar)–Pennar (Somasila)
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Pennar (Somasila)–Cauvery (Grand Anicut)
Out of the 148 tmc ft of water proposed to be diverted from the Godavari, 41 tmc ft has been allocated to Tamil Nadu, with 10.1 tmc ft set aside for Chennai city’s drinking and industrial needs. Tamil Nadu has also urged for 200 tmc ft to be provided in the future through the Brahmaputra–Mahanadi link.