Bangalore: The Karnataka government plans to
hold talks with Tamil Nadu for an amicable solution to the
contentious Hogenakkal drinking water scheme and a hydel power
project utilising the inter-state Cauvery waters, a senior
Minister said today.
Karnataka has reservations on the Hogenakkal project
being implemented by Tamil Nadu which in turn has been
opposing the state`s Shivanasamudram run-off-the river hydel
plant proposed at Mekedatu.
"We want to take a delegation to meet Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister M Karunanidhi to discuss these issues and resolve
them. I will talk to our Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa
shortly," Home Minister Dr V S Acharya told reporters here.
Last week, Karnataka Water Resources Minister Basavaraj
Bommai had slammed Tamil Nadu accusing it of deviating from
the original plan on the Hogenakkal project, which was refuted
by Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin in the Assembly.
On allocation of power from Central grid, Acharya said
during the recent meeting of Power Ministers in Delhi,
Karnataka pressed for ensuring supply of its quota of 1,543 mw
as there was a shortfall of 250-400 mw per day currently.
Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde suggested him
that there could be another meeting between them to sort out
the issue, Acharya said.
He said Karnataka also pressed the Centre for allocating
gas for its proposed gas-based plants from Krishna-Godavari
basin.
A Belgium company has offered to import gas and supply it
to Karnataka and the proposal was under study, he added.
PTI
