New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the Centre, Karnataka and Maharashtra on a suit filed by Andhra Pradesh for a direction to Maharashtra to stop the work on the construction of Babli barrage across the Godavari.

A Bench of Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice D.K. Jain also issued notices to other riparian States of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa and asked them to file their replies by August 4.

Plea for status quo

Senior counsel K. Parasaran, appearing for Andhra Pradesh, pleaded for maintenance of status quo that prevailed for 28 years. This was opposed by senior counsel T.R. Andhyarujina, appearing for Maharashtra. The Bench without passing any interim order posted the suit for further hearing on August 4.

In its suit, Andhra Pradesh alleged that Maharashtra was violating the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award by illegally constructing the barrage across the Godavari near Babli in Nanded district. It contended that Maharashtra had no right to undertake the construction of the barrage or any other irrigation project by encroaching into the reservoir water spread area of Pochampad Dam Project.

It said Maharashtra was going ahead with the construction of the barrage illegally and contrary to the terms of agreement of October 1975. The suit said that the Centre in terms of its legal and constitutional obligation intervened in the matter and tried to resolve the dispute but in vain.

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