Karnataka - Bangalore   

Call for CMs’ meet on Hogenakkal

BANGALORE: Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to solve the Hogenakkal issue once and for all.

Speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of a Raj Bhavan function, Mr. Bommai said that the Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had reiterated his government’s commitment to start the Hogenakkal project for providing drinking water to some towns in the region.

While making it clear that starting the work itself would not amount to contempt of Supreme Court, as it was meant for drinking water purpose, the Minister said that the scope of water consumption and population had grown, as compared to the original plan. The State Government had taken objection to these two points as the interest of the people in the State would be in jeopardy, he added. Mr. Bommai said that the issue had already been brought to the notice of Dr. Manmohan Singh. A joint survey of the location of the project and the border of the two States should be facilitated by the Union Government, he said.

On the water position in the four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin, Mr. Bommai said that it was very low when compared to the level during the same period last year. The Central Water Commission had information about the water levels in K.R. Sagar, the Mettur dams and at Biligundlu, and the same had been exchanged between the two States.

Declaring the situation as one of distress, the Minister hoped that the Tamil Nadu government would understand the situation. He added that the water levels in the dams were at their lowest as there had been no rain in the last four weeks. The Minister said the Government was hopeful of receiving rain, as the Department of Meteorology had forecast it.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

The right place at the right time
Changing the way we look at ‘Home’
Pay property tax online from July 1
‘My task is to protect people of all faiths’
Officials shouldn’t attend meetings called by Opposition leaders: Katta
Congress seeks probe into grain supply under PDS
Abhaya case: CBI to quiz lab officials
Call for CMs’ meet on Hogenakkal
Corporation Bank officers threaten strike
Author’s demand has no merit, says panel
‘BBMP not involved in Lalbagh demolition’
Petition filed against Bellary MP
Have your cake and eat it too
Child tests positive for swine flu
Horse owners threaten legal action
Abhaya case: CBI questions FSL Director
BBMP flattens encroachments
Property of accused in cheating cases to be attached
An EPIC effort starts all over again
Chacko remanded in judicial custody
Burglars break in, but strong rooms hold good Crime notes
Warring couple don’t want their child
A liberal voice is no more
‘Stub out tobacco products near educational institutions’
‘Extend deadline for tax payment’
Nietzsche in court
Bangalore today

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu