Mumbai, April 16
A reciprocal decision by the Maharashtra and Karnataka governments to release water in their border regions in order to provide relief to people during the summer months could snowball after Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray threatened to oppose the move.

Under the agreement while the Maharashtra government would release 2,000 million cubic metres (TCM) of water from Dudhganga and Warna rivers to the border districts of Karnataka till the monsoon, Karnataka would reciprocate by supplying water from the Almati backwater to the Jat taluka in Maharashtra's Sangli district.

Though an agreement was reached by leaders of both the states earlier this month, it was not officially publicised so as not to inflame tempers over the contentious issue of Belgaum. However, the matter came to light after local newspapers picked up the story.

Thackeray, who has been demanding the inclusion of including Belgaum in Maharashtra, has now got into the act hurling invectives against Karnataka.

"The Maharashtra government has taken a contract to feed a snake. They are committing atrocities on Marathi-speaking people but we are giving them our water," a write-up in party mouthpiece Saamna attributed to Thackeray said.

The Sena supremo stated that not a drop of water should be given to the neighbouring state and threatened to launch an agitation if the move was not suspended immediately.