Hyderabad:
Border politics has intensified with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah trying to end the stalemate caused by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu on the Babhli barrage issue by speaking to his Maharashtra counterpart Ashok Chavan.
"I told him (Ashok Chavan) that this is not the way to treat friends from neighbouring state. He assured me that he will take care of it. He told me it is a small area so no proper accommodation is available. I requested him to permit them to go around and have a look (at the dam site). He said he will consider," said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah.
Naidu was arrested on Friday for violating prohibitory orders after entering Maharashtra's Nanded district to insist on an inspection of the barrage. Naidu claims the dam will divert water away from the North Telangana region, making it a virtual desert.
"We are not demanding the demolition of the Babhali dam. We only want to see whether they are following Supreme Court's guidelines on constructing the gates. We want to see what is happening on the ground at the dam site,'' said TDP leader M V Mysoora Reddy.
Meanwhile, leaders in Maharashtra have hit back saying the protest is purely political, with an eye on the Telengana by-polls due at the end of the month.
"I am in touch with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, but Chandrababu Naidu should not create law and order problems in my state," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.
Like most border disputes over water, the Babhli barrage issue is in the Supreme Court and there are a host of issues.
The Rs 175 crore Babhli Barrage Project is being constructed by Maharashtra to solve the region's water problems.
The Andhra Pradesh government moved the apex court, insisting it would only help Maharashtra exploit water affecting the flow into the North Telangana region.
In an interim order, the Supreme Court gave Maharashtra the go-ahead with a rider that it won't block the water by installing gates.
The TDP has called for a bandh in Andhra Pradesh on Monday to protest against Naidu's arrest, and across the border. The Babli Bachao Kriti Samiti has threatened a bandh on Tuesday if Naidu remains in Maharashtra. As for the TDP and its chief, these water wars may just be the tonic he needs to boost his political career.