The Hindu : National : Decision on Hogenakkal was Karunanidhi’s, says Congress

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Decision on Hogenakkal was Karunanidhi’s, says Congress

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday clarified that putting the Hogenakkal project on hold was “absolutely the decision of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.”

While appreciating the “gesture” on the part of Mr. Karunanidhi, Chairman of the Media Department M. Veerappa Moily sought to dispel the “impression that was created” [at a press briefing in Bangalore on Tuesday] that the Congress president had personally spoken to Mr. Karunanidhi to put the project on hold.

“It is clarified that the Congress president is interested in an amicable settlement of the dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as she is very much concerned that the environment of peace and cordiality between the people of both States prevails. The decision to put the project on hold was Mr. Karunanidhi’s as he feels that there is no popular government in Karnataka in place to resolve the issue,” he said.

The deferment has come as a relief for the Congress, which is facing elections in Karnataka in May.

Tamil Nadu’s move to take up a Rs. 1,340-crore drinking water project by constructing a reservoir near Hogenakkal recently snowballed into a major controversy with its neighbour.

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