Maharashtra challenges maintainability of AP suit in SC

New Delhi, Mar 25 (UNI) Maharashtra today challenged the maintainability of the suit filed by Andhra Pradesh in the Supreme Court against the construction of a barrage at Sri Ram Sagar Dam.

The two states are involved in a water dispute relating to their share in Godavari river which flows from Sahyadris and flows through Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Counsel for Maharashtra pleaded before a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices Altamas Kabir and R V Raveendran that the construction of barrage at Sri Ram sagar Dam project is not illegal and does not violate the inter-state agreement dated October 6, 1975 between the two states.

The storage area of Godavari River is 1256 km long out of which 71 km is in Andhra Pradesh while remaining 55 km is in Maharashtra. Maharashtra is constructing barrage at Babhali, which has 13 gates .

According to Maharashtra, construction of the barrage will not have any adverse impact on Andhra Pradesh as the flow of river will not be obstructed. The contention of Andhra Pradesh however, is that the construction of the barrage will block the flow of river water from barrage storage area to reservoir storage area.

As a result, the water will flow back to barrage storage area and therefore, adversely affect the interest of Andhra Pradesh.

The arguements remain inconclusive and will continue tomorrow.

Maharashtra is however, saying that it will take around two years to complete the construction of barrage and unless all the 13 gates are closed, flow of river water cannot be obstructed.

The Supreme Court has already directed that Maharashtra can go ahead with the construction of the dam but will not close the 13 gates until further orders. According to Maharashtra, only the flow of 0.68 tmc ft of water out of 112 tmc ft will be affected and it is negligible.

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