K'taka to approach Apex court on Hogenakal issue

Bangalore, Aug 20 (UNI) Karnataka Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai today threatened to wage a legal battle against the Hogenakal project take up by the Tamil Nadu if the neighbouring state failed to clear the air over the controversy surrounding the drinking water project.

Speaking to reporters here that there was no option but to approach the Supreme court as 'a last resort' in a democratic and federal system if all administrative and political measures failed to bring results on the issue.

The state government would give a week's time to TN to settle the pending controversial issues like conducting of a joint survey and an explanation on the share of water for the new project, he said adding that it would lead an all party delegation to the Prime Minister next month if it failed cooperate with Karnataka.

He also criticised the Centre for not responding to the state on on its stand on the issue and recent statements by TN Water Resources Minister Dorai Murughan on the project saying there was no need for the joint survey.

"Our stand on the Hogenakal project is clear and TN should not take up the project until a joint survey is conducted. The Centre should keep it in abeyance till then," he said.

So far the officials of TN had taken a non-participative approach whenever the date was fixed to carry out the survey by the Survey of India, he said.

Mr Bommai said that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa would speak to his Tamil Nadu counter part Mr M Karunanidhi this evening on the issue at their level.

UNI SIV RS SKB1425