Date:31/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/31/stories/2008033157410100.htm

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“Hogenakkal project will be implemented at any cost”

Special Correspondent

Karunanidhi inaugurates flyover linking North Usman Road and Mahalingapuram

— Photo: R. Ragu

FOR FREE FLOW OF TRAFFIC: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi inaugurating North Usman Road - Mahalingapuram Road flyover in Chennai on Sunday. (From left) Mayor M. Subramanian, Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin and Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu are in the picture.

CHENNAI: The State government will implement the Hogenakkal drinking water supply scheme at any cost and it will not be cowed down by threats of some leaders, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said here on Sunday.

Inaugurating a flyover linking North Usman Road and Mahalingapuram here, the Chief Minister said the scheme had been cleared by the Centre.

The Karnataka government had also given its clearance.

At this stage, some politicians in Karnataka were trying to “sabotage” the scheme just to gain political mileage. Their attempts would not succeed, he added.

Appealing to the Centre to intervene in the issue, Mr. Karunanidhi said the move by some Karnataka leaders was against the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. “Let them not act in a manner that would be prejudicial to the unity of the country,” he added.

Making an appeal to the Centre to advise Karnataka not to obstruct a drinking water scheme, Mr. Karunanidhi said there was a limit to his patience.

Tamil Nadu was for cordial relations with neighbouring States, be it Karnataka or Kerala, and was of the view that neighbouring States should not fight.

Stressing the need for religious amity in the country, the Chief Minister said the flyover was aptly named North Usman – Mahalingapuram link bridge. He appealed to people in the area not to encroach on areas below the bridge or paste posters on walls.

Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin said work on construction of 11 bridges, at a cost of Rs.175 crore, approved in the budget of the Chennai Corporation last year was in progress. This was the first bridge to be inaugurated. The remaining would be opened during the course of the next one year. When he was Chennai Mayor, nine bridges were constructed in record time. The overbridge at Perambur was delayed owing to some technical problems, he added.

Union Minister of Surface Transport and Shipping T.R. Baalu claimed that only during the DMK regime, overbridges and flyovers were constructed.

Chennai Mayor M. Subramanian said the Corporation was executing schemes to beautify the city.

K. Deenabandu, Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply, also spoke.