The Maharashtra government that defied the Supreme Court orders and went ahead and constructed gates on the Babli Project, has now petitioned the Supreme Court, on Monday, for permission to operate those gates. This move is bound to have repercussions for Andhra Pradesh especially in the Telangana region.

The bench, comprising Justice Bhandari and Justice Dalbir Singh, which heard the interim petition referred the issue to the bench that is already hearing the Babli Project case. The Andhra Pradesh government had filed a petition earlier praying that the Maharashtra government completed the construction of Babli project illegally, in blatant violation of the orders of the Supreme Court as well as the Central Water Commission.

The Telangana leaders have been expressing fear that the illegal projects built by Maharashtra will deprive the state of irrigation water needed in seven districts of the backward Telangana region. Meanwhile, the state sovernment has urged the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal, headed by Justice Brajesh Kumar, to review the judgement delivered in December last year, since it will affect the interests of the state.