Baalu for PM's intervention on the water project

Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu also told the PM that the early implementation of the 1,334-crore JBIC funded water project is "imperative" as it would provide drinking water to two drought hit districts.

Amidst the standoff over the Hogenakkal issue, Union Shipping Minister TR Baalu on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him to advice the Karnataka government not to oppose the water project.

HT Image

Baalu also presented a copy of the resolution adopted unanimously by the Tamil Nadu assembly yesterday to the Prime Minister and apprised him of the facts relating to the Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project.

Earlier in the day, former Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna met Singh and said the Centre should "exert" its influence on Tamil Nadu to put on hold the project.

Baalu told Singh that the Centre had given all necessary clearances to the state to implement the project way back in 1998, after convening a meeting of both the states on the issue.

The Tamil Nadu government had also obtained necessary clearances from the Union Ministries of Environment and Forests, Urban Affairs and Rural Development, Balu said, adding the Karnataka government was kept informed about these issues.

The Minister also told the Prime Minister that the early implementation of the 1,334-crore Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) funded water project is "imperative" as it would provide drinking water to two drought hit districts of Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri.