With Election Commission announcing dates for the Karnataka assembly polls, the latest water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Hogenakkal drinking water supply project is in danger of taking a serious turn. A large number of policemen stood guard in Hosur town bordering Karnataka even as buses between the two states did not ply fearing attacks by protesters.

Chief Secretary L.K.

Even as the Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a resolution urging the Union Government to come forward to safeguard the rights of the people of the State, various Kannada organisations gave a call for a Kar

THE Japanese-funded Hogenakkal water project is becoming mired in needless controversy.

Tamil Nadu has described as "untenable, unfair and unjust,' Karnataka's stand that neither the interim order nor the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal can be enforced against it

Question of distribution has to be decided by CRA

A farmer was killed over a dispute which emerged over irrigation water share near Naban Khan Lakho village in the Lakha Road area late Monday night.

The Delhi government is planning to go to the Supreme Court to seek a direction to the Haryana government for releasing adequate water from Tajewala so that the Yamuna reaches an optimum level in the national Capital. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that neighbouring state governments were aware of Delhi's problem. Thousands of people come from various states. There is pressure of civic amenities and water supply of the Capital. Still some times Uttar Pradesh reduces water supply to Sonia Vihar and some times Haryana. Now the government will approach the Supreme Court to get its share of water, she said. Two water treatment plants

Frazzled by the frequent disruptions in the supply of water meant for the Capital, the Delhi Jal Board wants the Centre to step in and ensure that Haryana sticks to the terms of water sharing agreement signed by the two States. Delhi and Haryana have been at loggerheads over the sharing of Yamuna waters and the recurrent reduction in the city's share over the past few months has brought matters to a boil. Options DJB officials say with most options already exhausted, the Board is now exploring the possibility of getting the Centre to establish a central monitoring mechanism that will act as a referee. "Our officials have been communicating with their counterparts in Haryana, we have already brought the issue to the attention of the Chief Secretary Haryana, written to the Central Water Commission and the Upper Yamuna River Board and even sent a legal notice with regard to the violation of agreement on providing water for the Nangloi plant,' said Arun Mathur, the Chief Executive Officer of the Board. A central monitoring mechanism he explained "would help in keeping a check on the flow of water between Haryana and Delhi.' "A neutral party that will keep an eye on the sharing of water will be able to alert both the States as soon as it observes a dip in the water levels of the Yamuna. We are only asking Haryana to abide by the agreement that has been signed and give Delhi its legitimate share of water,' he said. Mr. Mathur said while the Board is hopeful of getting Haryana to release the scheduled quantum of water, it wants to rule out any possibility of water shortage during the coming summer months. VIP areas Many parts of the city including the VIP areas have been witnessing water shortage for the past few days. Production of water at Chandrawal and Wazirabad water treatment plants has reduced following a cut in the water supplied by Haryana.