K'taka govt not cooperating in hydel projects : Veerasamy

Chennai, Jan 28 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy today alleged that the Karnataka Government had not taken any interest in the proposed hydel projects in Hogenekkal and Sivasamudram to generate 390 mw of power.

The Minister told the state Assembly that even after several meetings between the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the years, the project could not be executed due to dispute between the two states over sharing of Cauvery water.

Apart from this, the Karnataka government also turned down the Tamil Nadu government's proposal of 50:50 power sharing ratio from the projects, he said.

Mr Veerasamy pointed out that the proposed hydro-power projects along the Cauvery could generate 1,150 mw of electricity.

Named as the Cauvery Hydro Power Project, it envisaged four power projects along the Cauvery to generate a total of 1,150 mw.

While two of these projects were in Karnataka - Sivasamudram (270 mw) and Mekadatu (400 mw), two were in Tamil Nadu - Hogenakal (120 mw) and Rasimanal (360 mw).

These projects would generate electricity at cheap cost, he said adding both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka would be benefitted from it.

The minister, however, maintained that Karnataka was not showing any interest in starting the project.

''The Karnataka government always maintain that they are ready for talks only when the Cauvery dispute between both states are resolved,'' he added.

He said the state government would continue its efforts for further talks to start the proposed hydel projects immediately.

''We propose to hold talk with the Karnataka government next month,'' he said adding that ''this time it is expected to be success.'' UNI SNR ROY SV RS1544