Bangalore, May 30: Karnataka today charged Andhra Pradesh with carrying on a "distorted and malicious campaign"against the state in branding the legally approved Chitravathi drinking water project as "illegal" and said the state would counter it. The statements of Andhra Pradesh leaders particularly chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on the Chitravathi drinking water project in kolar district was "highly irresponsible" and "an affront" to the Constitution, Karnataka minister for water resources H K Patil said at a press conference here.

Coming down heavily against Naidu's remarks that Karnataka was executing illegal projects in the Krishna River valley, Patil rebutted, "I am highly surprised. Which is the project that Karnataka is taking up illegally. In fact it is Andhra Pradesh which has built Telugu Ganga project violating the Bacchawat tribunal award.”

Andhra Pradesh went ahead and completed the Telugu Ganga project much against the objections raised by Karnataka and against the observations of the Supreme Court, Patil alleged.
Karnataka's sharp response comes close on the heels of a representation made by an Andhra Pradesh MPs delegation to President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Monday against the Chitravarthi project.

"If any illegal project is taken up, it is by Andhra Pradesh and not by Karnataka,” Patil charged and declared "Karnataka has no intention or never made efforts towards encroaching the water share of others.”

Karnataka would submit reports to Kalam and Vajpayee detailing the status of Chitravathi project, he said.
Bureau Report