The chief minister also said that the state government would fight a political and legal battle on the issue of interlinking of rivers.
Responding to a query on the Karnataka government’s stand on the Hogenakkal Phase-II project reportedly proposed by the Tamil Nadu government, Bommai said, “Whether it is Hogenakkal or interlinking of rivers, as a government we have in the past Faced with such questions. We have opposed the interlinking of rivers in the Supreme Court. We will fight it politically and legally.”
Bommai’s statement came a day after Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol’s statement that the state government would oppose the proposed water project at Hogenakkal on the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He said the neighboring state cannot do this unilaterally.
On the other hand, Tamil Nadu has opposed the Rs 9,000 crore Mekedatu reservoir project proposed by the neighboring state in Ramanagara district. The project aims to meet the drinking water needs of Bengaluru and other adjoining districts. Tamil Nadu argues that the project will affect the interests of farmers in its low lying areas.
“We will convene an all-party meeting in the first week of February in which Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J. C Madhuswamy, Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol and leaders of various parties in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council will participate.
He said that before this he will once again talk to legal experts by the end of this month, as he has said that they will make some preparations in this regard.
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