Hogenakkal project as scheduled: TN Chief Secretary

Chennai, May 26 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary L K Tripathy today said the implementation of the Hogenakkal drinking water project would go ahead as scheduled.

''Preparatory works are on schedule,'' the Chief Secretary said, when asked about the fate of the project in the wake of BJP coming to power in Karnataka.

The Chief Secretary, who was addressing the media on the arrival of Red Ribbon Express, said it was not the right forum to raise such question.

The multi-crore project, being implemented with Japanese assistance, ran into controvery following protest from BJP and other parties in Karnataka.

As violence escalated both in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, prior to the Assembly elections in Karnataka, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had announced that the project would be kept on hold till a popular Government was formed in Karnataka.

Meanwhile, Union Finance Minsiter P Chidambaram, who called on Mr Karunanidhi this morning, assured that the Government would do its best to get the drinking water project implemented.

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