The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka should cooperate in reviving 4 hydel projects: Minister

CHENNAI: The Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power, Mr Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said that the Karnataka government should come forward and cooperate on reviving four hydel projects in the Cauvery basin in partnership with Tamil Nadu for generat ing 1,000 MW.

“Since the Tamil Nadu government had already given its green signal now it is up to the Karnataka government to decide and come forward to revive the upcoming projects in Shivasamudram and Meghdoot, both in Karnataka, and Rasimanal and Hogenakkal in Tami l Nadu,'' he told reporters after meeting Chief Minister Mr M Karunanidhi here.

“I’ve already met the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr B S Yeddyurappa and asked him to revive the proposal. He (Yeddyurappa) promised me that he will first study the proposal,'' he said.

Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are buying power for about Rs 8 per unit. “We have to find the way to revive these projects because they would generate power between Rs 2-3 per unit.'' These projects would be executed by National Hydro-Electric Power Corporatio n (NHEPC) and the power would be shared by both the States according to a tripartite agreement, he said.

However, Mr Ramesh said that the Karnataka government has not rejected the project and instead it said it would go through the proposal before executing it. When asked if there is any time frame to execute the projects, he said, “There is no time frame. It is a politically sensitive issue and once Karnataka gives the go-ahead, we can start discussing the proposal''. - PTI

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