Summary:
Chennai, Jan 23 (PTI) Tamil Nadu"s principal opposition AIADMK on Sunday slammed Karnataka government for opposing the second phase of the Hogenakkal Drinking Water Project, saying the neighbouring state has no moral or legal right to challenge it.
The main opposition party also took credit for implementing the Hogenakkal project (first phase) in Tamil Nadu.
The scheme was launched in 2008 during the DMK regime when late M Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister.
Top party leader O Panneerselvam said the Hogenakkal Combined Drinking Water Project, a long time dream of the people of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts of Tamil Nadu, was fulfilled by late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
Tamil Nadu is a lower riparian state, the AIADMK leader pointed out, apparently indicating that the state was dependent on water supply by upstream state, Karnataka.
The Karnataka government, which has the habit of releasing only "surplus water" after all its dams were filled, does not have a right "morally and legally" to oppose Tamil Nadu"s Hogenakkal project"s second phase, Panneerselvam said in a statement.