Kar seva plans may snowball

Talking to Express Newsline over the telephone from Bhopal, Additional Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Ravindra Sharma said, 8220;Our Chief Minister has already written to the Gujarat Chief Minister that as the Narmada issue was in the Supreme Court it would be inappropriate to initiate such an action.8221;

According to sources, the letter was written a few days ago after the plans of the pro-dam activists came to light. Express Newsline had published a report in mid-October stating that the proposed plan might lead to a confrontation between the two states with Madhya Pradesh linking the digging of the bypass tunnel to lowering of the dam height.

While the provision to dig a bypass tunnel would enable Narmada waters to reach the main canal even before the dam height reaches 110 metres, Madhya Pradesh had demanded lowering of the height to prevent a large tract of fertile land from submerging. On the other hand, it was ready to sacrifice its share of power in case the height was lowered and made it clear that the tunnel could be laid only if the height is lowered.

And Sharma made it clear that if the programme was carried out in Gujarat the issue would be put up before the Supreme Court.

Narmada Development Minister Jaynarayan Vyas, meanwhile, told Express Newsline that it would be difficult to comment on the government8217;s stand till a blueprint of the programme was ready.

According to highly placed government sources, the Ministers concerned and the officials are talking to the organisers.

About the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister8217;s letter, Vyas, while dismissing any confrontation with Madhya Pradesh, retorted, 8220;While giving permission for the Rally for the Valley, did they not realise that the matter was in the Supreme Court.8221;

The organisers, too, are adamant. And this despite the sources saying that they have been forced to postpone the programme for failure to muster up as much support as expected.

8220;Irrespective of the Gujarat Government8217;s stand, the programme will go ahead,8221; Sanat Mehta, one of the main organisers, told Express Newsline. According to him, the programme had to be postponed in view of the truckers8217; stir. Other organisers are Sharad Joshi, Raghavji Raiyani of Setu, a voluntary organisation and kisan organisations.

Sources in pro-dam circles said the morale of the organisers had been boosted by the fact that the Supreme Court had only reprimanded anti-dam campaigners Medha Patkar and Arundhati Roy.

On the other hand, top sources said, the Government would not like to have any adverse impact for the case in the Supreme Court is to be taken up again by November-end.

A meeting of pro-dam activists 8212; whose office was opened today 8212; will be held here on Wednesday to finalise the programme and work out the kind of finance required. Students of Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU have prepared posters, Mehta said, adding that details about opening of a website could be available shortly. He claimed the response for their programme has been good.