From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bangalore, June 3: The Thiruvalluvar-Sarvagna statue diplomacy to foster linguistic harmony and brotherly ties between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is being sought to be attempted again for discussing the give and take barter deal between the two states in respect of Tamil Nadu’s Hogenakkal drinking water project and Karnataka’s proposal for a 345 mw hydro-electricity project at Shivanasamundra with chief secretary’s of both states scheduled to meet soon.
Giving this information to reporters, Karnataka’s home minister Dr V S Acharya said the official level talks would pave the way for the ministerial level talks on resolving the boundary
dispute and the Hogennakal issue.
The state government was hoping to cement the ties between the two States by resolving the dispute over the implementation of a drinking water project by the neighbouring State at Hogenakkal through talks, he said.
Dr Acharya said the State government would like to discuss the proposal to set up the hydro-electricity project Shivanasamudram by incurring all the cost. The water utilised for power generation would be released to Tamil Nadu.
Following Karnataka's reservations on the Hogenakkal drinking water project, the Karunanidhi government has been opposing the proposed Shivanasamudram run-of-the river hydel plant project.
Dr Acharya said a delegation of MPs of the State called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Delhi a few days ago and appealed to him to direct the Tamil Nadu government to drop its
drinking water project at Hogenakkal.
The government would like to hold talks with the Tamil Nadu government on both the drinking water scheme and the hydel power project utilising Cauvery waters. The boundary disputes between two states would remain till the line of control was clearly demarcated, Dr
Acharya said.
"After the official level talks, we want to take a delegation to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to discuss these issues and resolve them,” he said.
The minister expressed the confidence that its proposal, if accepted, would result in a win-win situation for both the States.
Karnataka would be able to implement an economically low-cost hydel power project and increase its power generating capacity substantially by setting up the power project while Tamil Nadu would get water to solve its perennial drinking water problem.
Several pro-Kannada organisations have been opposing the implementation of the drinking water project by Tamil Nadu at Hogenakkal. The Tamil Nadu government claimed that it would draw only 1.4 tmcft of water and had received permission from the Centre to do so.
The Hogenakkal drinking water supply scheme is being implemented with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency for supplying potable water to the people of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.
SECURITY BEEFED UP IN DK, UDUPI, SHIMOGA, CHIKMAGALUR
The Home Minister disclosed that the State Government has stepped up security in the naxal-infested region of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shimoga and Chikmagalur districts following the derailment of a train by naxals in West Bengal.
The Anti-Naxal Force and reserved police have been combing the region to eliminatethe naxals, he said.
“The government is aware of the naxal menace but its scale is low in the State compared to other states of north India,” he said.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested Nandakumar and Manohar, suspectednaxalites, in the last few days, he said.
On Karnataka State Human Rights Commission Chairman S R Nayak’s plea for police security, Dr Acharya said a committee on security would take appropriate action on the matter.
Answering questions, Dr Acharya said there was no life threat to Sri Sri Ravishankar, Art of Living founder, and the scale of security has been stepped up at the Ashrama premises here to prevent any untoward incidents.
He said the State police have continued their investigation into an unidentified gunman’s attempt on the life of Sri Sri Ravishankar and there was no breakthrough in the probe so far.
Unidentified gunman made attempt on the life the Art of Living founder on Sunday but the assailant missed the target and injured Vinay, who was standing nearing the Guruji.
Dr Acharya said the police have continued the investigation into the incident and he would not comment on the issue till he gets the probe report. All confusions would be cleared only after completion of the probe.