Hyderabad, Sept 20: In the backdrop of river water disputes erupting with unfailing regularity bedevilling relations between states, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has proposed an ambitious Ganga-Cauvery link project as a permanent solution to drought in various states. Naidu, who holds considerable clout at the Centre, is keen to push through the project, envisaging withdrawal of 60,000 cusecs of flood flows of Ganga to irrigate an additional 4 million hectares, under a "public-private partnership".

In Naidu's assessment, the estimated investment of Rs 3 lakh crores required for linking Ganga basin with the peninsular region could be raised through PPP model on the lines of 'golden quadrangle', a national road network project.

The chief minister, who had broached the subject during his meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee last month, would carry forward the initiative and approach the Centre again with a detailed report, sources close to Naidu told reporters here.

Apart from southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, several other states including Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Bihar would benefit from the 2,460 km-long Ganga-Cauvery link that essentially involves transfer of 50,000 cusecs of flood flows of Ganga to the peninsular region and utilisation of another 10,000 cusecs in the Ganga Basin itself. Bureau Report