State to fi le objections to river linking

Karnataka has decided to opp o s e Ta m i l Nadu’s Hogenakkal hydro electric project and the Cauvery- Gundar-Vaigai river linking project and file objections in court, said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Speaking to media persons here on Tuesday after chairing a meeting with senior counsels who represent the state in the legal battle, the state advocate general and senior officers on the ‘Inter-State Water Disputes’ he said, “Karnataka has always united when it comes to protecting the state’s interests related to land and water. As for the Mekedatu project, it is coming up before the National Green Tribunal(NGT) and there is also another case coming up for hearing. We will present our stand clearly by filing our objections.”

Appointment of the Judge Replying to a question on notifying the award of the Krishna Tribunal-2, Bommai said, the judge had recused himself before the last hearing. “This time we have submitted a petition to the Registrar General for appointing a new judge before the next hearing. The Chief Justice will decide on that. If not we have decided to make a submission in the court regarding this,” Bommai said.

‘’It has also been decided to present our stand clearly before the Central Water Commission and Cauvery River Management Authority. I had met the Union Water Resources minister and environmental clearance is awaited,’’ Bommai said. On Mahadayi, he said the state has requested for a speedy hearing. ‘’As all riparian states have submitted objections to the Tribunal award, we need to find a solution. The meeting discussed how to start our projects, status of the court cases and how to continue the projects which have been started,” . “We also discussed the GodavariKrishna- Cauvery- Pennar river linking project. We have to file our objections conveying the stand that till the water share of each state including our own share is decided, approval should not be given for the DPR. The Union Finance minister too has been informed about our stand that the consent of all states should be obtained before going ahead with the project,” Bommai added Replying to a question on cabinet expansion, the CM said the issue would be discussed only when he meets BJP National President JP Nadda.