Supreme Court's decision on Babli project allowing Maharashtra government going ahead with the construction of Babli project has (as what observers consider) came in as a blow to farmers from Telangana region. The apex court constituted a three-member committee to look into the sharing of Godavari water between Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
What is this Babli project? What it has got to do with Telangana farmer? Let us look into this now:
Babli is a project taken up by Maharashtra Government long back across river Godavari, which flows into Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. The dispute dates back to 1975 when the then chief ministers SB Chavan and Jalagam Vengal Rao reached to a settlement over sharing of Godavari water. As per the Award then (judgment given by Tribunal), Maharashtra should utilize 60 TMC of Godavari water and the remaining water would be utilized by Andhra Pradesh by constructing Sriram Sagar Project in Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh.
Later, Maharashtra Government took up the construction of Babli project and went ahead with it. Andhra Pradesh objected the same as it said that Maharashtra has already built four projects on Godavari river and already used its quota of water.
What will happen if Babli is constructed:
As per several reports in the media, Telangana region will become barren land in case Babli project is constructed. There area as many as 18 lakh acres of crop land under Sriram Sagar Project. Since Babli project is reportedly built on foreshores of Sriram Sagar Project, Telangana farmers-who are apparently already in confusion-will presumably receive a blow. The observers said that chances are more that the backward region of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana is likely to become more backward.
The observers have also said that lawyers from Andhra Pradesh apparently didn't make their arguments strong before the Supreme Court, which is why such decision has come. Let us only pray for almighty that Telangana lands don't turn barren as that's the only thing which is in our hands now.
(AW Phani)
(in the interest of the public)
