Speaking to journalists after inspecting the ongoing Hogenakkal Water Supply and Fluorosis Mitigation Project works at Madam village and Hogenakkal, Stalin said, "The work on the Rs 1,928crore Japaneseaided project is being taken up only within Tamil Nadu's territory and there is no violation of the border."

He said the Karnataka government and other political parties in that state are indulging in a false propaganda on the issue. Karnataka has been claiming that the land where the project is being executed belonged to it and also accused Tamil Nadu of deviating from the original plan, saying the scheme would involve 2.5 tmc ft of water, whereas we would draw only 1.

He added that the work was scheduled to be completed in five phases. Phase I works were being carried at a cost of Rs 63.67 crore, he said. Work on the treatment plant had begun on April 14 and was expected to be complete on time, he added. To protect the plant, a 1,000metre wide elephant trap would be constructed around it, he revealed.

He added that mega tanks of a capacity of 240 lakh litres were being built at Madam village and would be complete by the end of May.

Stalin said as part of Phase II works, overhead tanks, water sumps and pipelines would be constructed. The tender process would be finalised by the end of June, he said and added confidently that the works would be planned in a such a way so as to be completed within 24 months.

He said the Hogenakkal drinking water project would be made operational by December 2012 and officials had been directed to complete all work on time.

The Deputy Chief Minister also revealed that Chief Minister M Karunanidhi would honour officials engaged in the project at the time of execution.