Tamil Nadu commences work on Hogenakkal project

The Tamil Nadu government has opened the field office of the Rs 1330 crore Hogenakkal water project in Dharmapuri, formally commencing work on the integrated scheme to provide water for the two districts bordering Karnataka.
   
Work on the project to provide potable drinking water to Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts would be completed within the stipulated period, managing director of the Tamil Nadu water supply and drainage board, Swaran Singh, said. The office was inaugurated on June 17.
   
Singh said the work on the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation-aided project was to be completed in two phases, and would proceed stage by stage and added that he did not envisage any hurdles in its completion.
   
Board sources said the work would start from March 2009 after the government finalised the tenders and would be completed by 2012.
   
The project, for which Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi laid the foundation stone on February 26 this year, was opposed by pro-Kannada

groups and political parties.
 
Bharatiya Janata Party leader and now Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa had visited the project site during the run-up to the assembly elections and objected to its implementation.
   
Karunanidhi, who put a temporary hold on the project till the Karnataka assembly elections were over, later ordered its implementation.