Karnataka   

Hogenakkal project: Karnataka Chief Minister for joint survey

NEW DELHI: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Tuesday complained against the Tamil Nadu government for going ahead with the Hogenakkal drinking water project, and accused Maharashtra of creating problems for those residing near its border by releasing excess water from the Koyna dam without prior information.

Speaking to presspersons here after a meeting at the Union Planning Commission, where the annual Plan size for the State was finalised, he said: “A joint survey is very much required [with regard to the Hogenakkal project]. I have told the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister that without permission, it [Tamil Nadu] cannot start the project.”

Mr. Yeddyurappa was responding to a question on the reported statement of Mr. Karunanidhi that the project was proceeding on schedule and that there was no need for his State to seek the permission of either the Centre or the Karnataka government for implementing it. Asked whether he would meet Mr. Karunanidhi on the issue, the Chief Minister said that the Irrigation Minister was in touch with his counterpart in Tamil Nadu.

He recalled that during his earlier visit to Delhi, he had requested the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of Chief Ministers of southern States for a discussion on the various inter-State disputes.

On the issue with Maharashtra over the release of excess water from the Koyna dam, Mr. Yeddyurappa said that the State was releasing 2.2 lakh cusecs of water from the dam without prior information, affecting Gokak town as also many villages in Gokak taluk.

“I spoke to the Chief Minister this morning and requested him to inform us in advance whenever water was released from Koyna in future and to release the water gradually to avoid flood and damage to life and property,” he said.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said the State government would soon come out with a comprehensive mining policy to check illegal mining and curb over-exploitation of mineral resources.

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