Chief minister K Rosaiah on Tuesday said that a decision was taken to find a political solution to Babli Irrigation project at the tripartite meeting convened by the prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh with the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in New Delhi on Monday.
Talking to media persons, Rosaiah said the state had presented its views effectively on illegal projects being constructed by Maharashtra at the meeting, and also expressed the AP government's serious concern over the Babli row.
The CM said he had requested the prime minister to issue directions to Maharashtra for dismantling the installed gates of Babli barrage and stopping 13 other unauthorised projects being constructed by the neighbouring state.
He revealed that the PM heard his view sympathetically. However, as the matter pertaining to Babli is pending before the SC, he suggested that both the states await adjudication by the court.
Rosaiah said Manmohan Singh advised both states to strictly abide by the interim orders of the Supreme Court and find a political solution to the problem.
"In order to find a solution to the problem, Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan asked me to withdraw the case in the Supreme Court," Rosaiah revealed.
Rosaiah said he had rejected the proposal of his Maharashtra counterpart and told Chavan that a solution can still be found while the case goes ahead in the Apex Court.
He said the Babli issue cropped up when Maharashtra proposed it in 1995 violating the inter-state agreement.
Replying to a question, he said the government will convene all-party meet, if the need arises, on the issue once again.
The chief minister expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the conclave, and criticized opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu for making unwarranted comments over the outcome of the meeting. He termed them 'cheap tricks' meant to politicize the issue.