New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday declined the plea of Andhra Pradesh government against the construction of Babhali barrage by Maharashtra in Nanded district for utilising the water of Godavari river.
The apex court said, “On the basis of facts which have come on record, a case of substantial injury of a serious magnitude and high equity that moves the conscience of the court has not been made out by Andhra Pradesh justifying grant of injunction.
Andhra Pradesh had alleged that Maharashtra had violated terms of the agreement of 1975 between the two states by constructing the Babhali barrage in the reservoir/water spread area of Pochampad project of Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh had termed the construction of the barrage as illegal and unauthorised, since it would deprive the state in general and its inhabitants in particular in the districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda, Khammam and Medak of having water for irrigation and drinking purposes.

Maharashtra had opposed the plea of Andhra Pradesh saying saying that as per the 1975 agreement, construction of projects for using its share of water is its prerogative and the only cap is that the utilisation should not exceed 60 TMC feet of water.