Bangalore, July 19: Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna today called for cooperation between the state, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in jointly harnessing hydel power from the disputed Cauvery and Krishna rivers, with the Centre playing a 'role' in this effort. "Nothing should prevent Tamil Nadu and Karnataka through the offices of the Union government to tap the hydel potential of the Cauvery river on a mutual sharing basis," Krishna said.
He was speaking at the inaugural of the two-day national conference on "imperatives for reforms in coal, gas and railways to optimise benefits under power reforms and opportunities under the Electricity Act 2003".
Maintaining that the inter-state cooperation for power generation could continue, despite the existing differences between the southern states, he said the Centre could act as a soother to ruffle the feelings.
"We can further enlarge areas of cooperation and we can continue to quarrel, arbitrate in areas we do not agree," Krishna said.
Stating that Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh chief ministers 'might dismiss' the suggestion due to his 'quarrels' on the Paragodu dispute, he said, "There are areas we cannot agree... there are areas we can agree. International conduct of relations is worked on this principle."
Hydel power was the cheapest form of power generation, he said, adding that the co-operative method was first proposed by former power minister, the late Mohan Kumaramangalam.
Bureau Report