BANGALORE: The State Government will write to the Centre to order a joint survey to determine the boundary between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in and around Hogennakal Falls.

This was stated here on Tuesday by Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh who also maintained that there is no change in the State's stand with regard to the 350-acre island near the falls. He was reacting to the statement of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

The Kannada Chaluvaligars led by Vatal Nagaraj, MLA, staged a demonstration on Tuesday stating that Hogennakal Falls belongs to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu cannot claim it.

`Unnecessary'

Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash has accused Tamil Nadu of raising an unnecessary controversy over the island. The All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which is in power in that State, has raised the dispute with an eye on the coming Legislative Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, according to him.

Participating in a meet-the-press programme organised by the Bangalore Reporters' Guild here on Tuesday, Mr. Prakash said the Tamil Nadu Government, which hitherto kept raking up the Cauvery water dispute, has raised another controversy over the 350-acre island. Since this year's monsoon has been good, Tamil Nadu cannot rake up the Cauvery dispute.

The island belongs to Karnataka "legally and morally" Mr. Prakash said and accused the neighbouring State of making what he termed politically motivated claims. The island has been a part of Karnataka since the reorganisation of States in 1956 and is administered by it, he said.

The people living in the area, including Gopinathapuram, are enrolled on the State's voters' list, Mr. Prakash said.

Both States should take up a joint survey for clear demarcation of boundaries.

Karnataka is ready to begin the survey from Byrampady in Gundlupet taluk while Tamil Nadu is insisting on a survey from Hogenakkal, Mr. Prakash said.

The joint survey by both the States will take more than six years. Each team can survey only 4 km a month. Both States have been discussing the formation of three or four teams to complete the survey at least in four years, he said.

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