TN will implement Hogenakkal Project at all cost: CM

Chennai, July 14 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said his government will implement the Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project at all cost, setting to rest allegations by PMK Founder-Leader S Ramadsoss, an estranged ally of the DMK-led DPA, that the project had been put on the backburner.

Replying to a set of questions, Mr Karunanidh said far from being put on the backburner, the government had opened an office for the project near Krishnagiri the photographs of which had appeared in several dailies.

The Tamil Nadu Government called for tenders for appointing a consultant. A detailed schedule had been drawn up for executing the project and a statement in this regard had already been issued in May.

''Hiding the facts, the PMK Leader is alleging it is his party which has been responsible for initiating the project and cannot tolerate if any one tries to stall its implementation. This is not good.

' 'It is only with the intention of implementing the project, the Tamil Nadu Government went al the way to Japan to secure funds from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and is involved in efforts to complete the project as soon as possible,'' he said.

The Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water Project is the proposed fluorosis mitigation drinking water project being undertaken at Hogenakkal in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 1330 crore.

It is scheduled to be executed by Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD), with funding from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) using Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery River Water. The project aims to supply safe drinking water to drought prone and fluorosis affected Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri Districts of Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu had put on hold the Hogenakkal Project, ending a standoff between the state and neighbouring Karnataka over the issue which had sparked violence in both the states.

Mr Karunanidhi had said his government would 'wait' till a popular government was installed in Karnataka after the May Assembly polls and hoped that the new ministry would abide by the 1998 agreement to implement the water project.

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