When the Tribunal begins its sittings, the TN government would seek a hearing and urge appropriate orders, said an official press release on Thursday.

The release said the Karnataka government formulated in 1987 a new hydel project, near the existing 42 MW hydel scheme which was commissioned in 1899. On examining the new project, the TN government found that the water inflow into TN would be reduced to 125 tmc ft with possibilities of a further reduction.

In view of this, both the TN government and the Centre refused to give their consent to the project. Again in 1992, when there were media reports stating that the Karnataka government planned to revive the hydel project by entrusting it to a private firm in Italy, theTN government filed a miscellaneous petition in the Cauvery Tribunal and sought a stay against its implementation.

However, the counsel for Karnataka informed the Tribunal that his government was not going ahead with it and presented an order in this regard. Later, as per the advice of the Tribunal, the TN government withdrew the petition by emphasising its right to file it again if need be.

The press release added that in March 1998, the counsel for Karnataka government informed the Tamil Nadu government that his state proposed to revive the project. Following this, the TN government asked Karnataka to send technical details and project report of the scheme.

Getting no rejoinder from Karnataka, the TN government moved the Tribunal by explaining in detail the history of the project, the release said.