Babhali: AP to mount pressure on Centre

The Andhra Pradesh government today resolved to send a team of ministers to New Delhi to mount pressure on the Centre to restrain Maharashtra from going ahead with the controversial Babhali irrigation project.

A meeting of the cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy took a serious view of the "illegal" construction of a barrage across the Godavari by the neighbouring state and its "blatant defiance" of the Central Water Commission's direction to halt the work.

The cabinet unanimously adopted a resolution condemning Maharashtra's "anti-constitutional actions" and yesterday's baton-charge by the police on Opposition TDP activists who tried to storm the project's site.

The Centre will be asked to ensure that work on the project in Nanded district is stopped immediately, Lakshmaiah and Information Minister Mohammad Ali Shabbir told reporters after the meeting.

Meanwhile, in Mumbai, both the houses of the Maharashtra legislature were rocked over the Andhra Pradesh CM's alleged anti-Maharashtra remarks with the Opposition parties demanding that a censure motion be brought against Reddy.

Reddy had, in a press conference in Hyderabad on Tuesday, allegedly called Maharashtra's approach over the issue as shameless.

Industries Minister Ashok Chavan informed the state Legislative Council that Reddy's remarks, reported in a section of the media, would be verified and the government would make a statement on the issue in the House.

Water Resources Minister Ajit Pawar informed the House that around 30 per cent of the work on the barrage was already complete. The approval for the barrage was obtained in 1995, he claimed.