TUTICORIN: A detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared to divert a portion of excess water from the Godavari river to Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema region, Union minister for water resources, river development and for Ganga rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari said on Monday. Gadkari was addressing a gathering after inaugurating various projects at the Tuticorin VO Chidambaram Port. Pointing out the importance of irrigation for agriculture, Gadkari said 10,000 farmers from Vidarbha region in Maharashtra had committed suicide due to lack of water for their crops. He added that 3,000 tmc of water from the Godavari was getting wasted into the sea. The minister added that under this ambitious river linking project, the Cauvery river would get 175 tmc – which is almost equal to the present share 177.25 tmc earmarked by the Supreme Court for Cauvery in Tamil Nadu. He said the project would benefit even those living in the tail ends of Tamil Nadu. Earlier, minister for information and publicity C Kadambur Raju appealed to Gadkari and the Centre to act according to their conscience so that Tamil Nadu gets the rightful share in Cauvery, Siruvani and Mullaperiyar from the neighbouring states in an unbiased manner.