SC verdict on Babli project today

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In view of the Supreme Court verdict on the controversial Babli project on Tuesday, the police of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have sounded high alert on inter-state borders. Nizamabad and Adilabad district police and their counterparts in neighbouring Nanded district of Maharashtra have deployed additional forces as a precautionary measure. The Babli project was constructed across the river Godavari near Dharmabad taluk of Nanded district at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore. As per the inter-state agreement, Maharashtra had already utilised 0.6 TMC ft of water from Sriramsagar project catchment area for its drinking water needs. With the construction of the Babli project with its 14 modern radial gates, Maharashtra plans to use another 2.74TMC ft of water.

On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh has raised objections stating that the project would badly affect the storage capacity of SRSP, which is the lifeline to north Telangana districts. Peoples’ representatives and officials suspect that the Maharashtra government plans to avail around 60 TMC ft of water through Babli project, which would practically render Telangana region a desert. In view of this, a series of agitations have been staged against the project by the ruling Congress and TD, TRS, BJP leaders in AP.

Meanwhile, both AP and Maharashtra governments have taken the battle to the Supreme Court. The apex court is expected to deliver its verdict on Tuesday. However, the Akhila Bharat Chava Sanghatan and Babli protection committee of Maharashtra have started agitation in favour of the project. They have also been pressurising the Maharashtra government to use the water from the project to irrigate the dry lands in Nanded district.

Speaking to this newspaper, Nizamabad superintendent of police Vikram Jeet Duggal said all precautionary measures are being taken at the inter-state borders. “We have already spoken to Nanded SP Vittal Jadhav on the situation along the Andhra Pradesh-Maha-rashtra borders,” he said. Replying to a question, Mr Duggal said that there is no intelligence on agitation. “We are keenly observing the situation, but the Maharashtra police is taking extra care,” he said.