Janata Dal (S) chief H D Deve Gowda has requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] to prevail upon Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi not to proceed with the Hogenakkal project till the Supreme Court gives its verdict on the issue.

The matter pertaining to Hogenakkal project is currently sub-judice with Karnataka Government approaching the Supreme Court on the issue.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister ought to have maintained discretion and restraint and not proceeded with the project pending clearance from the apex court,  Deve Gowda pointed out in a letter addressed to the prime minister.

He urged Singh to visit the project site with an all party Parliamentary delegation along with technical experts to assess the impact it (project) would have on the people of Karnataka.

Pending the visit, Deve Gowda appealed to him to prevail upon Karunanidhi to put on hold the project and not to make any "provocative statements" that would aggravate the already volatile situation.

Describing the people of Tamil Nadu as "our fellow Indian brethren", the former prime minister said the people of Karnataka had nothing whatsover against them.

"Their only concern is that whatever scarce natural resources are they should be equitably shared by both."

While suggesting construction of a storage dam as a solution to the long-pending dispute, Deve Gowda warned that any delay in intervention by the Union government would lead to "chaos and anarchy".