GUHAGAR (RATNAGIRI DIST), Aug 4: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Gopinath Munde, has decided not to hold a public debate with social activist Medha Patkar as scheduled on August 11 on Enron's controversy-ridden 2,184 MW Dabhol Power Project here.``I will not have a debate with Patkar on August 11 as agreed and instead, i will meet the affected villagers, who are protesting against the project, at Mumbai on August 12,''Munde, who was here to lay the foundation stone for a hospital being put up by Enron, told reporters.When asked why was he backing out from the public debate, Munde, who holds the Energy portfolio, stated ``Patkar has already spoken to the people. I will now not talk to her.''Munde had earlier postponed the scheduled debate three times on one pretext or another. His postponement of July 26 debate to August 11 was not accepted by Patkar who addressed the villagers at Katalwadi, the project site, to present her views.The Deputy Chief Minister's visit was marked by black flag demonstrations by Congressmen led by Nishikant Joshi at the taluka town and at Ranvi village near the project site, where two persons were injured in stone-throwing that ensued when the Deputy Chief Minister made an attempt to meet the protestors. Agitators alleged that police had blocked all ways leading to the main road in order to provide smooth passage to Munde.Munde said the State Government would ensure that Enron will provide 80 per cent of the jobs to locals in the Phase II of the power project.The Deputy Chief Minister said the fishing jetty at nearby Veldur, lying in a state of shambles, would be repaired at a cost of Rs five crores and handed over to a cooperative of fishermen.
