Babli project: SC nod to Maharashtra

In an interim order, the Supreme Court today allowed Maharashtra to go ahead with the construction of the Babli barrage across Godavari river, which is being opposed by Andhra Pradesh.

A three-member Bench of Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan, Justice R V Raveendran and Justice D K Jain, however, restrained Maharashtra from installing crest gates of the barrage till final disposal of the matter. The Bench also ruled that the state shall not claim any equities for construction of the project till then.

The order came on a suit filed by Andhra Pradesh challenging the construction of the barrage on the ground that it would adversely affect the interest of at least five villages in the perennially drought-prone Telangana region.