Govt approves appointment of committee on Babhali Barrage

In keeping with the directions of the Supreme Court, government today approved the appointment of a three-member supervisory committee, headed by a representative of the Central Water Commission, on the Babhali Barrage issue.
In its meeting today, the Cabinet approved the constitution of the three-member Supervisory Committee on the Babhali Barrage. The Supreme Court had given directions to the government on February 28 to form the body.
The Committee will comprise one representative from the Central Water Commission, who will be the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee, and one representative each from the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Andhra Pradesh is objecting to the construction of Babhali barrage by Maharashtra in the submergence area of Sriram Sagar Project. It has maintained that this is in violation of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal award.
Andhra Pradesh had complained to the Centre on this issue in May, 2005. But the matter could not be resolved despite meetings by Central Water Commission between the two states.
In July 2006, the Andhra Pradesh government filed a case in the Supreme Court against Maharashtra and the Government of India and asked the apex court to grant a permanent injunction restraining Maharashtra from undertaking or proceeding with the construction Babhali Barrage.

The Supreme Court had directed the Centre to constitute a three-member Supervisory Committee to deal with the issue. The matter is still subjudice in the apex court.