Karnataka - Mysore   

Storm brewing over water project near Hogenakkal

MYSORE: Tamil Nadu’s move to take up a Rs. 1,340-crore drinking water project by constructing a reservoir near Hogenakkal is likely to snowball into a major controversy.

The unanimous resolution adopted by Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday to urge the Centre to extend cooperation in completing the drinking water project, in time by stopping Karnataka from objecting to the project, has angered pro-Kannada organisations. The pro-Kannada organisations are opposing Tamil Nadu’s move to implement the project and develop the 400-acre controversial island.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has set April 9 as deadline for Tamil Nadu to take a decision with regard to dropping the project.

The vedike’s State president T.A. Narayana Gowda cautioned Tamil Nadu Government that Tamil films would be banned and Tamil television channels would be blocked if that State did not drop the project.

Organisations opposing the project in Chamarajanagar district have decided to convene a meeting shortly to discuss the development and chalk out strategies to oppose Tamil Nadu’s move.

Meanwhile, Chamarajanagar Zilla Abhivrudhi Horata Samiti has planned to approach court to get a stay on the implementation of the project.

Hogenakkal Ulisi Horata Samithi convenor Putraraje Urs criticised the statement of the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalitha and resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. He said it had been decided to convene a meeting at the earliest to discuss the development and chalk out strategies to oppose Tamil Nadu’s move.

Samiti president K. Veerabhadraswamy said that the protesters thought that Karnataka would approach the court to prevent Tamil Nadu from implementing the project. Failure on the part of Karnataka to do so had forced the samiti to approach the judiciary and a petition would be filed soon in High Court.

“We are even thinking of giving a call for Statewide bandh to oppose the project,” he said.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha district president Mahesh Prabhu said the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly would harm the federal system. In view of the development, it had been decided to convene a meeting, he added. Writer Lingadevaru Halemane said that it was unfortunate that Tamil Nadu had passed a resolution when there was no popular Government in Karnataka. “Tamil Nadu has forgotten basic legislative requirement,” he said.

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