New Delhi: A delegation of MPs from Karnataka met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday urging him to intervene in favour of the State over Tamil Nadu, which is constructing a water project at Hogenakal to utilise Cauvery water.

In a memorandum, they expressed apprehensions that as Cauvery water-sharing dispute between Karnataka and TN was unresolved, the State’s interest  would be adversely affected by the project.

Drawing the Prime Minister attention to recent media reports that Tamil Nadu had already laid a foundation stone for the project, the leaders said the details of the project should be made public either.

The issue created a storm in Lok Sabha too, over some remarks made by BJP MP Ananth Kumar. The BJP member, who was speaking on the Karnataka budget, made the reference which angered the DMK members who stormed the well of the House. BJP MPs from Karnataka also entered the well. Only a threat by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee that he would put the motion on budget to vote without discussion made the MPs relent. Chatterjee expunged the remarks made  by Kumar.

Classical status

The MPs also requested the Centre to grant classical status to Kannada language besides amending Article 371 of the Constitution to grant special status to backward Hyderabad-Karnataka region. Despite giving three memorandum to the Centre requesting to grant special status to this region no headway was made in this regard.

The members also demanded that the existing HAL airport in Bangalore should be retained and not closed down, once the Devanahalli international airport opens.