Hogenakkal project put on hold due to pressure from Centre: Jaya

Chennai, Apr 5 (UNI) AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa today questioned the unilateral decision of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to put on hold the Hogenakkal drinking water project and claimed that he had done it due to the pressure exerted from the Centre.

In a hard-hitting statement here, she condemned Mr Karunanidhi's decision in this regard and said it went against the resolution passed in the state Assembly.

Stating that people were in a shock, she alleged ''by making such an unilateral announcement, especially when the state Assembly was in session, Mr Karunanidhi had violated the traditions and lost the moral responsibility to continue in office.'' ''After passing an unanimous resolution in the Assembly with the consent of all parties that the project should be implemented at all cost, how could Mr Karunanidhi announce such a major policy decision without consulting the House'', she asked.

Asserting that nobody's permission was required to utilise the water flowing through the Tamil Nadu side as Hogenakkal belonged to Tamil Nadu, Ms Jayalalithaa said there was no need to withdraw the project and Karnataka has no right to interfere in this. Referring to Mr Karunanidhi's remark that he hoped that the new Government in Karnataka would abide by the 1998 agreement on the project, she said the project has no link with the ensuing Assembly polls in Karnataka.

''Why should Mr Karunanidhi link the project to the Assembly polls in that state. Does it mean that Karnataka has the powers to decide on whether Tamil Nadu should implement it or not. Is Mr Karunanidhi giving such powers to Karnataka,'' she charged.

Accusing Mr Karunanidhi of always taking a stand in favour of neighbouring states and betraying the interests of people of Tamil Nadu on all issues, including Cauvery, Palar and Mullaiperiyar, she alleged that the Hogenakkal project was dropped due to pressure exerted from the Centre.

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