Press Trust of India
BANGALORE / NEW DELHI, Jun 2: Signalling a tough stand on the Hogenakkal issue on which both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are at loggerheads, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Monday said every effort would be made to safeguard the interests of his state.
"Interests of the people of Karnataka are very important to me and every attempt will be made to safeguard the interests of state," he said at a press conference here when asked about Tamil Nadu's drinking water project, which he opposed in the run up to the polls.
Noting he had already discussed the issue with irrigation and legal experts, Yeddyurappa said an all party leaders meeting would be convened soon after the vote of confidence this week to discuss the issue.
The Chief Minister said that protection of land, water resources, borders, language and culture of Karnataka was of utmost importance and "there is no scope for compromise in this regard".
Asked whether he would meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on the issue, he said he would like to meet everybody.
He said that there was a need for Centre and the Chief Ministers of both states to sit across the table and discuss the issue.
Yeddyurappa visited Hogenakkal located on Tamil Nadu side of the border on March 16 and protested over the project's implementation.
The Rs 1,334 crore project, aimed at providing drinking water to water-starved districts of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri bordering Karnataka, was put on hold by Karunanidhi in April after violence broke out in both the states.
Karunanidhi put the project on hold stating that his government would "wait" till a popular government was installed in the neighbouring state.
After the three-phased polling in Karnataka ended on May 22, Karunanidhi gave the go-ahead for resumption of work on the project and directed officials to complete the work as scheduled by 2011.
Karunanidhi said that the schedule for commencement of the project work would be strictly followed. Work was progressing as per schedule and there was not need to write to the Centre or Karnataka now, as demanded by some, he had said.