On the eve of his assuming office, Karnataka Chief Minister-designate B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday said he would lead a delegation to Tamil Nadu to discuss the controversial Hogenakkal drinking water project that has seen a lot of bad blood between the two states.
"After discussing the issue in the state Cabinet and seeking the opinion of advocate general, I will lead a delegation to call on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi," he said after visiting Siddaganga Mutt where he sought the blessing of the mutt head Sri Shivakumar Swamiji.
"We will protect Karnataka's interest on Hogenakkal," he told reporters in Tumkur.
Yeddyurappa, who had visited Hogenakkal to protest against the project days before Karnataka went to polls, also declared that if negotiations failed, the state would approach the Supreme Court. His remarks come in the wake of Tamil Nadu asserting that work is in progress on the project.
Karunanidhi had said in Chennai on Wednesday that the schedule for commencement of the project work would be strictly followed. Work was progressing as per schedule and there was no need to write to the Centre or Karnataka now, as demanded by some, he had said.
The Rs 1334-crore project, aimed at providing drinking water to the Tamil Nadu districts of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri bordering Karnataka, was put on hold by Karunanidhi in April after violence broke out in Karnataka over Tamil Nadu government's plan to go ahead with the scheme.
There were counter-protests in Tamil Nadu also. The anti-Hogenakkal agitation began after Yeddyurappa made a surprise visit to Hogenakkal on March 16 and protested the project's implementation.
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