TN now locks horns over Shivasamudram power

Vijay Times, Sept 24, 2005

B D Narayankar

Bangalore: T amil Nadu is back to its favourite game of demanding a ’ransom’ from Karnataka by claiming a share in the po wer to be generated at Shivasamudram hydel station as a price for giving its consent to the project taken up by National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC). Shivasamudram hydel station is one of a chain of four po wer generation units being taken up in two phases by the NHPC, the other three being at Hogenekal, Mekedatu and Rasaimanal. While Shivasamudram is in the Karnataka territory , Rasaimanal is in T amil Nadu and the other two are on the borders. Consent of both the states is mandatory for implementation of the projects. Karnataka had given its consent in good faith. But T amil Nadu has chosen to toe a billigerant line by staking claim for its ’pound iof flesh’ in Shivasamudram power to give its consent though it was made clear from the beginning that po wer generated here would be exclusively for Karnataka. Irked by T amil Nadu’s ’unjust’ claim, the Karnataka government has decided to bring it before the Cabinet where a tough stand is expected. In retaliation, Karnataka has already reversed its consent given earlier and opposed the H ogenekal project, as the po wer generated there is meant for only T amil Nadu, sources told Vijay T imes. State F orest officials alleged that T amil Nadu was deliberately insisting on NHPC to take up all four projects simultaneously , treating them as part of a comprehensive project, knowing it would cause great harm to Karnataka’s forest wealth and biodiversity . Karnataka had suggested to the Centre that the projects be taken up in two phases to save to the extent possible its forest wealth, which otherwise would be submerged in water if the projects are taken up simultaneously . Karnataka had consented to the Rasaminal project despite the huge loss it would cause to its forest wealth. Now , it would oppose the (Rasaimanal) project if T amil Nadu continued with its adamant claim for a share of Shivasamudram power , the official said.