BANGALORE: Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash on Saturday said 400 acres of land near the Hogenakkal Falls on the border with Tamil Nadu is in the territory of Karnataka and appealed to that State to respect the boundary.

Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Prakash said a joint survey of the area was being conducted by officials of the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Survey and Settlement departments. When officials from Tamil Nadu insisted that the land belonged to their State, their counterparts in Karnataka boycotted the survey.

Mr. Prakash said the land has always belonged to Karnataka. Even after the linguistic reorganisation of the States in 1956, it has remained in Karnataka territory. The Hogenakkal Falls area is also under the control of the State Government. "The question of handing over the land for whatever reason does not arise. We are not going to budge an inch. We are reasonable," he added.

"An issue that has been settled should not be reopened as it will cause bad blood between the two States. I appeal to the Tamil Nadu Government to stick to the present position," Mr. Prakash said.

The Director of Survey and Settlement is camping in the area to discuss the developments with officials who participated in the joint survey, he added.

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