The Babli project / barrage is a controversial reservoir project being constructed by

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...

across the river

Godavari The Godavari ( IAST: ''Godāvarī'' �od̪aːʋəɾiː is India's second longest river after the Ganga river and drains into the third largest basin in India, covering about 10% of India's total geographical area. Its source is in Trimbakesh ...

, disputed by

Telangana Telangana (; , ) is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated on the south-central stretch of the Indian subcontinent, Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India b ...

. The

Supreme Court of India The Supreme Court of India ( IAST: ) is the supreme judicial authority of India and is the highest court of the Republic of India under the constitution. It is the most senior constitutional court, has the final decision in all legal matters ...

delivered a ruling after seven years in favour of Maharashtra with the Andhra Pradesh government expected to appeal against it.

History

The dispute arises from the fact that S.B. Chavan and

Jalagam Vengal Rao Jalagam Vengal Rao or Jalagam Vengala Rao (May 1921 – 12 June 1999) was for much of his life a member of the Indian National Congress and was the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh which is now divided into two states, Telanga ...

reached an agreement in October 1975, which was later made part of the

Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal The Government of India (GoI) constituted a common tribunal on 10 April 1969 to solve the river water utilization disputes about the river basin states of Godavari River, Godavari and Krishna rivers under the provisions of Interstate River Water ...

(GWDT) Award. As per the terms of the pact, Maharashtra could utilise 60 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of Godavari water while Andhra Pradesh could go ahead with building the Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP) and utilise the rest of the water.

Water Allocation

Telangana contended that Maharashtra has used up its quota in course of time by building four projects. Yet, in an action without precedent, Maharashtra began construction of the Babli project on the foreshores of SRSP and many small projects upstream. Eighteen

lakh A lakh (; abbreviated L; sometimes written lac) is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand (100,000; scientific notation: 105). In the Indian 2,2,3 convention of digit grouping, it is written as 1,00,000. For ex ...

acres under the SRSP ayacut in the

state will become barren if Maharashtra is allowed to have its way.

Legal battle

As per a report, dated 30 Jan 2012 even when Andhra Pradesh is waging a legal battle against Maharashtra's Babli barrage and eleven other barrages across the Godavari river, Maharashtra has agreed to Andhra Pradesh's proposal for constituting an Inter State Board (ISB) for implementing the Rs 403 billion mega

Pranahita Chevella lift irrigation scheme The Pranahita Chevella Lift Irrigation Project is a lift irrigation project to harness the water of Pranhita tributary of Godavari river for use in the Telangana state of India. The river water diversion barrage across the Pranahita river is loca ...

. With this green signal, Andhra Pradesh has overcome a major hurdle in making its dream project a reality.

2013 Supreme Court ruling

The Supreme Court ruled in favour of Maharashtra, with safeguards contained in the judgment included the stipulation to open Babli gates during the monsoon period (July to October ) to allow inflows to SRSP. The Union Cabinet on 17 October 2013 gave its approval for Constitution of the 3-Members Supervisory Committee on the Babhali Barrage to implement the directions of the Supreme Court.

References

{{Coord, 18, 51, 12, N, 77, 49, 14, E, type:landmark_region:IN-MR, display=title Dams on the Godavari River Dams in Andhra Pradesh Reservoirs in India History of Andhra Pradesh (1947–2014) Inter-state disputes in India Godavari basin Proposed infrastructure in India

History

Water Allocation

Legal battle

2013 Supreme Court ruling

See also

References