The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was the one who raised the issue first at a flyover inauguration ceremony in Chennai recently. “There are some in Karnataka who have said that they will destroy Tamil Nadu buses. Why buses, even if they break our bones, we will not be bothered. Hogenakkal project will definitely be implemented..... there is a limit to my patience,’’ he had thundered. It was this speech that Krishna and other political leaders in Karnataka had found inflammatory.
But his recent decision to put the matter on hold has raised doubts among his allies. Even his expression of hope that the elected government in Karnataka would “see the justice on our side”, is being seen with doubt.
Dr S Ramadoss, the founder of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and a DMK ally, doubts Krishna. Karunanidhi cannot wish away PMK’s criticisms as the ranting of a recalcitrant and reluctant ally. Even the Left parties have been flummoxed by his volte-face.
They would like to see the BJP, which took the lead in raising the Hogenakkal issue, neutralised, but not at the cost of a project, which they too feel is in danger of being consigned to the scrap heap. None of them are convinced by Karunanidhi’s statement that the implementation has been postponed by a mere month and are apprehensive of a long drawn out political and legal battle.
In 1971, the Tamil Nadu, under pressure from the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had withdrawn the petition it had filed in the Supreme Court on the Cauvery issue.
That move by Karunanidhi, who was the Chief Minister at that time also, has been described by his opponents as a historic blunder as it paved the way for escalation of the Cauvery river water dispute between the two states.
The opposition parties, and even some allies, fear that he may have committed a similar blunder by putting Hogenakkal on hold. The PMK on Sunday took on its alliance partner the DMK over the Hogenakkal issue, wondering how a government that allocates Rs 750 crore a year for distribution of free Colour TVs (CTVs) did not utilise its funds for the implementation of the drinking water project.
“Can't a government that does Rs 50,000 crore of annual revenue expenditure allot Rs 1000 crore for drinking water needs?” the PMK founder asked the state government.
"The DMK government in its three budgets has allocated Rs 2250 crore (Rs 750 crore a year) towards distribution of CTVs. Half of this amount will be sufficient to implement the water project that will solve the drinking water problems of people of the two districts," he said. The project could have been implemented over the years using state funds, if not at one go, he said.
“What is the guarantee that SM Krishna, who is savouring victory now, will not go to the Supreme Court against the project?” Ramadoss asked.
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