Maharashtra gets SC nod for Bhabli

The Supreme Court today permitted Maharashtra to go ahead with the construction of the Bhabli barrage across River Godavari which is being opposed by neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

A three-member bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justice R V Raveendran and Justice D K Jain, however, directed Maharashtra not to open the crest gate of the barrage until further orders.

The Bench also ruled that Maharashtra shall not claim any equities for construction of the project until disposal of the suit.

The apex court passed the interim order on a suit filed by Andhra Pradesh challenging construction of the barrage claiming that it would adversely affect the interest of at least five villages in the perennially drought prone Telengana region.

Besides the Andhra Pradesh government, a number of MPs, MLAs and political leaders of the TRS (Telengana Rashtra Samithi) have impleaded themselves in the suit against Maharashtra.