THE Japanese-funded Hogenakkal water project is becoming mired in needless controversy. On the one hand, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's repeated assertion that the Hogenakkal drinking water and power generation project will not be stopped has sparked off a series of protests by pro-Kannada activists in Karnataka apart from political parties there joining issue with what Mr Karunanidhi is saying. There are all the signs that this project at the border between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to be built at an estimated Rs 1,340 crore is going to become part of the outstanding and unresolved issues between the two states over sharing the Cauvery river water. After prolonged deliberation the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal gave its verdict last year. But dissatisfied by the verdict both the riparian states have gone to the Supreme Court where the petitions are pending. Pro-Kannada activists and the politicians in Karnataka are claiming that at this stage, while the matter is before the Supreme Court Tamil Nadu cannot go ahead with the project. The project is also caught up in a vortex of misinformation and worse. Tamil Nadu claims that Karnataka's assent to this project has been obtained. Karnataka is yet to officially clear the air. In the ensuing confusion, would it be proper to take to cultural vandal ism? Is there any justification in attacking cinema houses and Tamil Sangam office in Bangalore to protest the Hogenakkal project? Incidentally, Tamil Sangam is one of the pioneers in running Kannada classes for non-Kannadigas in Bangalore. Culture has no linguistic or regional barriers. Protests against Tamil Nadu Government's decisions are quite often laced with cultural vandalism in Bangalore or elsewhere in Karnataka. Pro-Kannada activists must desist from taking such steps as political decisions have nothing to do with cultural activities. What is required now is more clarity and amicable settlement. Surprisingly, Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur, who is the administrator of the State under the President's rule, preferred to maintain silence over the controversy while the Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao remains silent after writing a letter to the Union Government. Political parties, including the Congress, which is in power at the Centre as part of the UPA, have rightly demanded the Central Government's intervention in this controversy so that the federal structure of the country is not disturbed. The Central Government has to weigh in. It has maintained silence so far. It is the duty of the Central Government to take an unbiased stand about the project without yielding to any political pressure.