Bangalore, Apr 3: The Karnataka High Court on Thursdaydismissed a public interest litigation challenging the Hogenakkal drinking water project proposed to be implemented by Tamil Nadu. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice Ravi Malimath dismissed the petition and asked petitioners C S Govindaraj and three others to approach the government on the contentions raised by them.

Since it is a sensitive issue with multi-dimensional ramifications, the petitioners should go before the government and if they still remain aggrieved they can approach the court, the bench said when it took up the petition for hearing. Govindaraj and others from Chamarajnagar district, in their petition, wanted the court to give direction to Tamil Nadu not to go ahead with the project until the joint survey already ordered by the Centre was completed. If the project was taken up now, it would be an injustice to the people of Karnataka, they said. The Rs 1334-crore scheme, being taken up at Hogenakkal close to the Karnataka border, is being funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. The scheme, when completed, would provide drinking water supply to the districts of Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri.