Karnataka plans dailogue with Tamil Nadu on Hogenakkal project

Karnataka has reservations on the Hogenakkal project being implemented by Tamil Nadu which in turn has been opposing the state's Shivanasamudram run-off-the river hydel plant proposed at Mekedatu.

"We want to take a delegation to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to disucss these issues and resolve them. I will talk to our Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa shortly", Home Minister Dr V S Acharya told reporters here.

Tamil Nadu had taken up the drinking water project while Karnataka was facing power problem, he said.

Last week, Karnataka Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai had slammed Tamil Nadu accusing it of deviating from the original plan on the Hogenakkal project, which was refuted by Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin in the Assembly.

On allocation of power from Central grid, Acharya said during the recent meeting of Power Ministers in Delhi, Karnataka pressed for ensuring supply of its quota of 1,543 mw as there was a shortfall of 250-400 mw per day currently.

Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has suggested to him that there could be another meeting between them to sort out the issue, Acharya said.

He said Karnataka also pressed the Centre for allocating gas for its proposed gas based plants from Krishna-Godavari basin.

A Belgium company has offerred to import gas and supply it to Karnataka and the proposal was under study, he added.