The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Fresh complaint against Maharashtra barrages

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Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Fresh complaint against Maharashtra barrages

Special Correspondent

It has taken up 11 barrages across the Godavari “high-handedly”, complains State to Union Government

If allowed, the inflows to Sriramsagar project will be adversely affected
‘Several districts will be deprived of even drinking water, let alone irrigation’

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh has lodged a fresh complaint with the Union Government, seeking immediate action to stop construction of 11 barrages by Maharashtra across the Godavari.

The 11 barrages together will use 7.3 tmc ft of water from the river. If they are allowed, the inflows to Sriramsagar project, that is serving seven drought-prone districts in Telangana region of the State, will be adversely affected. Several places in these districts will be deprived of even drinking water, let alone irrigation, the Government stated in the complaint.

In yet another letter addressed to Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz on Tuesday, Major Irrigation Minister P. Lakshmaiah reiterated that the 11 barrages, taken up above Sriramsagar, was a direct affront to the inter-State agreement signed by the two states in 1975 providing for construction of Sriramsagar project. The agreement was later incorporated into the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award.

He said the agreement provided for utilisation of 60 tmcft of the Godavari waters by Maharashtra above Sriramsagar. Maharashtra, however, had already exhausted this allocation by constructing Jaikwadi, Vishnu Priya and a large number of lift irrigation schemes. Mr Lakshmaiah said Maharashtra had taken up the barrages “high-handedly” in utter disregard to the agreement. It had gone ahead with the construction, without getting the necessary clearances from the CWC or consent from Andhra Pradesh, a riparian State.

The Minister reminded Mr Soz of the agitation going on in Telangana against the barrages for two years now and regretted that no action had been taken so far. Already, a water war is on between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra over Babli. A case filed by the AP Government against Babli is pending disposal before the Supreme Court.

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