PUNE, June 2: The saffron alliance government in Maharashtra has decided to take the bull by the horns in the face of the latest offensive launched by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu charging the State government of violating the Krishna water dispute tribunal award.

``Chandrababu has been dragging Maharashtra into an unwarranted controversy by politicising the issue,'' a State government official said.

``It's unfortunate that no western Maharashtra MP has so far made any noise over Chandrababu's charges,'' he said speaking on the condition of anonymity. The Joshi government, however, has taken cognisance of the AP's `multi-pronged mischief', he added.

``Maharashtra lacks clout in New Delhi to protect its interests when it comes to inter-State matters. Nevertheless, we will fight it out with the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister who has been throwing tantrums over certain fanciful notions,'' maintained well-placed sources.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Indian Express, Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC) vice-chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar pooh-poohed the claims of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister on `unauthorised' use of Krishna water by Maharashtra.

``Naidu seems to be gripped by fear psychosis,'' Naik Nimbalkar said and asserted that the Corporation would not be hindered with AP propaganda.

Having locked horns with Karnataka on raising the height of Alamatti dam and taking up the Upper Tunga project, the Andhra government also has charged Maharashtra with pushing ahead at least 16 `unauthorised' irrigation schemes.

The AP Chief Minister in a letter to the Union Water Resources Minister Janeshwar Mishra also has urged him to direct the Central Water Commission to review the clearances given to Maharashtra projects.

All set to float yet another issue of irrigation bonds, the MKVDC seniors are hard pressed to clear `certain gray areas' in the three-state water award of 1975.

``Andhra Pradesh charges will deter Maharashtra in no way,'' Naik Nimbalkar asserted while countering Chandrababu's claims on western Maharashtra sugarcane growers using 1100 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet water.

The United Front king-maker's move is widely being perceived as an effort to pull strings and compel the Gujral government to delay funding for the Maharashtra projects.

MKVDC sources suspect a two-prong strategy by Andhra Pradesh to restrain Maharashtra from going ahead with its at least 16 projects in Krishna valley.

Incidentally, the Andhra move has come close on the heels of Maharashtra embarking on a multi-crore Tembhu lift, a canal connecting Bheema and Seena rivers and a few other irrigation reservoirs mainly in Pune and Satara districts.

Taking up the Herculean task to impound 594 TMC feet water of its share before May 2000, the Corporation has expedited 113 small, six medium and eight major irrigation schemes in Krishna valley worth Rs 2765.84 crore, so far.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.