The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Karnataka told to shun controversy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 27, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Karnataka told to shun controversy

Special Correspondent

Hogenakkal site had always been part of Tamil Nadu, says the Chief Minister

CHENNAI: Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday urged the Karnataka Government to "immediately stop raising unnecessary disputes" over the land near the falls at Hogenakkal in Dharmapuri district. The site had always been part of Tamil Nadu, she asserted.

Making a statement in the Assembly shortly after Question Hour, Ms. Jayalalithaa said Hogenakkal falls on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border and is an important tourist site. The State Government had initiated certain development works on the basis of demands made by tourists for their protection, besides improving existing facilities. Claims were being made that the site belonged Karnataka.

Joint survey

She said led by the Dharmapuri district Collector, officers of the Forest Department of both the States inspected the area on September 16. The Collector reported that the land survey had confirmed that the work site was within the Tamil Nadu boundary.

However, the Collector and Superintendent of Police of Chamraj Nagar visited the area on September 20 and objected to the ongoing work. Representatives of some organisations in Chamraj Nagar district "intentionally" went there and tried to assert that the area belonged to Karnataka, Ms. Jayalalithaa said.

Survey maps clearly show that the area chosen for putting up railings for the safety of tourists is well within Tamil Nadu, she said. "One is at a loss to understand why Karnataka is raising unnecessary objections to these works aimed at ensuring safety of tourists. This is a needless controversy," she added.

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