• Investment World
• eWorld
• Brand Line
• Mentor
• Life
• Brand Quest
• The New Manager
• Smartbuy

Stocks

• Quotes
• SE Diary
• Scoreboard
• Open-End Mutual Fund

Cross Currency

• Rates
  
  

Shipping

• Ports
  
  

Archives

• Yesterday
• Datewise
• Resources
• In Focus
• In Depth
• Events 2007

Group Sites

• The Hindu
• The Hindu ePaper
• Business Line
• Business Line ePaper
• Sportstar
• Frontline
• The Hindu eBooks
• The Hindu Images

Our Bureau

Chennai, Aug 10 The Government of Karnataka has informally agreed to negotiate a fresh draft tripartite agreement with the Government of Tamil Nadu and National Hydro Electric Power Corporation, for building four hydro power projects on the Cauvery River.

The Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power, Mr Jairam Ramesh, who met the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, on Friday said that Karnataka was cautious but nevertheless willing to go ahead with the four projects that would collectively have a capacity of 1,150 MW.

Mr Yeddyurappa said he would discuss this with his Cabinet colleagues and get back to him, Mr Ramesh told Business Line.

Mr Ramesh sees Karnataka’s willingness to open dialogue with Tamil Nadu as a measure of progress, for earlier, the State was not willing to even go that far.

Two of the four projects — Sivasamudram (210 MW) and Hogenakkal (120 MW) — are run-of-the-river projects, and as such, would need not displace anybody. The other two — Mekadatu (400 MW) and Rasimanal (360 MW) —would lead to submergence of forest land (mostly in Karnataka).

If the two States agree, work on the two run-of-the-river projects will start immediately and the projects could generate electricity in five years.

The power produced will be shared by only the two States, (perhaps) in the same proportion as the area of land submerged.

Mr Ramesh, who met the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr M. Karunanidhi, said that the Government of Tamil Nadu is keen on the project.

More Stories on : Power | Tamil Nadu

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line