The Telugu Desam Party on Wednesday warned the state government that it would lead an agitation in New Delhi over the Babli Project, if the state government does not take up the issue with the centre within a week's time.
Talking to media persons, senior TDP leader and MLA Errabelli Dayakar Rao said that a group of people from the districts to which waters from the Sriramsagar Project is supplied, will be part of the protestors.
He said that these people face a real danger of losing their livelihoods, as their lands would go arid in case the government allows the Babli Project in Maharashtra to be completed.
Errabelli said that if immediate action is not taken, then there will be no water in the Sriramsagar project, and that 4 districts of the Telangana region will go dry.
He said that the TDP had raised the issue almost 6 years ago when the Maharashtra government had performed the 'bhumi puja' for the Babli Project. He said that the TDP had warned the YSR government about the impact of the project to farmers in Andhra Pradesh.
The senior TDP leader lamented that his party's objections were brushed aside by the government, which kept saying that the project is being taken up only to ease the drinking water problem in Maharashtra.
Errabelli said the TDP had given photographic proof that the Maharashtra government had erected 4 crest gates. He accused the state government of neglecting to place this proof before the Supreme Court and thus weakening the state government's case.
He said that TDP activists were beaten up in Maharashtra jails when they tried to protest over the raising of the height of the Babli Project.
Dayakar Rao denied that the TDP's raising of the issue at this particular time had anything to do with the by-elections. He said that the party was raising the issue now since the work on the project is almost near completion.