NEW DELHI: Babhali construction on the river Godavari in Maharashtra figured in the Lok Sabha with agitated Congress MPs seeking central intervention by preventing the State Government from carrying on with it.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Nizamabad MP, Madhu Yashki Goud said the State Government was going ahead with the construction of the barrage that would affect the Sriramasagar irrigation project.

Mr. Goud said construction activity was going on despite an assurance by the Maharashtra Chief Minister to suspend it till March 30 when he was scheduled to meet his Andhra Pradesh counterpart.

Stating that authorities in Maharashtra were violating its own agreement and also directions of the Central Water Commission, he urged the Centre to take immediate steps. He requested that Union Water Resource Minister to visit the site. Several of Mr. Goud's party members also stood up in support expressing their resentment over the construction.

Earlier, the Nizamabad MP had to tender an apology and express regrets after Speaker Somnath Chatterjee cautioned him for interrupting the proceedings of the House. Mr. Goud had tried to bring it up as the Speaker was calling out names of members who had given notices to raise other issues.

The Telugu Desam Party leader, K. Yerrannaidu, urged the Environment and Forest Ministry to intervene in Aruku valley where tribals who were displaced were agitating. He said the State Government had signed a memorandum of understanding with a private company for excavation of bauxite.

The Speaker sought to know how the matter related to the Centre.

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