GULBARGA: Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh said on Monday that he has directed senior officials to ascertain the facts pertaining to the controversy over the claims made by farmers' associations that an island at Hogenakkal is part of Karnataka.

Addressing presspersons here, he said the Government is likely to get a report from them in a day or two, after they complete an inspection. He said he did not discuss the issue with his Tamil Nadu counterpart Jayalalithaa during the meeting convened by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to discuss the naxalite problem, a few days ago.

However, Mr. Dharam Singh said Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala have agreed not to take up developmental work on the disputed land till the issue is resolved.

He said that during his talks with Ms. Jayalalithaa, he shared information about naxalite activities. Reports that the naxalites are active in the forest areas where forest brigand Veerappan used to camp were not true, according to her.

Exploiting an issue

He said there is no issue for naxalites to exploit in the forest areas where Veerappan was active. Naxalites have been able to make a foray into forest areas in forests in Chikmagalur, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts by exploiting the uncertainty among tribal people about their habitations following the Centre's decision to include a part of the forests in national park territory, he added.

Mr. Dharam Singh said that besides seeking an amendment to the Forest Act, the State Government, at the meeting convened by Mr. Patil, sought permission to take up developmental work in about five acres of land in the national park where tribal people live. The Centre has been requested not to displace tribal people.

He said the Union Government has reservations about amending the Forest Act.

Plea to Centre

He said he has sought the deployment of the Naga Battalion for operations against naxalites in the State as was done in Chhattisgarh. A vigil is being maintained in Davangere and Chitradurga districts following intelligence reports that naxalites are gaining ground, he added.

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