HYDERABAD: Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah has accused Telugu Desam leaders of sending wrong signals to Maharashtra and the Supreme Court by visiting Babli and the 11 barrages when the apex court had posted the next hearing in the case to November 25.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, the Minister said Maharashtra was eager to include the issue of the 11 barrages in the Babli case with the intention of enlarging the scope of its dispute with Andhra Pradesh over Godavari waters. Its aim was to secure a direction from the Supreme Court to constitute a new tribunal for fresh distribution of the Godavari waters among the riparian States.

The visit by the Telugu Desam leaders at this juncture could force Maharashtra to expedite its plan.

The Minister said if the new tribunal was constituted, it would not only disturb the present allocation of Godavari waters to the State but also provide scope for Maharashtra to complete all its proposed projects, including Babli and the other barrages, before the tribunal could submit its report.

Mr Lakshmaiah listed various steps taken by the Rajasekhara Reddy government, resulting in the Supreme Court asking Maharashtra not to erect crest-gates on Babli.

There was nothing that the Telugu Desam could achieve beyond this, he said.

He said the Telugu Desam was struck by “election virus” and it was jittery as its cadres had gone helter skelter.

The party was so “frustrated” that it chose to tread any path to mislead people.

The Minister wanted to know from N. Chandrababu Naidu whether his party leaders visited Alamatti dam with “axes and sticks” as they did now regarding Babli and 11 barrages.

Mr Naidu could not restrict the dam height in spite of all the noise he made at that time.

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