JOIN USTN creeps up on Hogenakal
Defying the Central Government’s advice caution that no work be undertaken until the completion of the joint border survey, the Tamil Nadu government has intensified work on the drinking water project. Work is also apace to dig a well on the banks of the River Cauvery and for laying a pipeline to carry the water.
Completion of the projects would enable Tamil Nadu to expropriate more water from Cauvery than the Centre-brokered bipartite agreement during the J H Patel regime, according to which drinking water was to be provided from Cauvery for IV and V Stage to Bangalore and Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts in Tamil Nadu.
As per the accord, the Tamil Nadu government then had sought 14 tmc ft of water to fulfil the drinking water requirements of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. It had designed a Rs 1,334-crore drinking water project with aid from Japan.
However, the drinking water project seems to have been expanded to include Hosur, Pallakkad, Marandahalli, Rayakottai, Pennagaram and other districts, unilaterally increasing its share of water by 2.1 tmc ft.
Further, Tamil Nadu also seems to be encroaching upon the Karnataka portion of the 400-acre mid-river island, Nadu gadde in Hogenakal. Following the linguistic reorganisation of states, Karnataka is entitled to two-thirds of the 400 acre land at Nadugadde river island in Hogennakkal, while Tamil Nadu is entitled to the rest.
Encroachment
The Tamil Nadu government has constructed a watch tower on Karnataka portion of the land, amounting to encroachment. Moreover, it is collecting a fee of Rs two from tourists at the watch tower. In addition, it has constructed a hanging bridge leading to the Karnataka area and charges a user fee of Rs 20.
On its part, the Karnataka government seems to be blissfully apathetic towards the Tamil Nadu moves.
“The Chamarajnagar Abhivrudhi Horata Samiti has been opposing the encroachment of the riverine island since 2001. However, our politicians have adopted a complacent stance towards the Hogenakal issue,” said committee president K Veerabhadraswamy.
He warned of staging a hunger strike on April 23 demanding immediate halting of the Hogenakal drinking water project.
CISF security likely for State dams
In view of bomb blasts outside Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore, the Water Resources department has proposed the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) security cover to major dams.
“We want to provide CISF security cover to all dams. Presently, we have proposed the CISF security cover for Almatti dam to the Home department. Similar arrangements will be made for other important dams also,” Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
There is also a proposal to hire private security for the dams. It is left to the the Home Department to take an appropriate decision, the Minister added.