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DAM-L LS: SSP restart ceremony fiasco (fwd)



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Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 14:06:53 -0800 (PST)
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subject: LS: SSP restart ceremony fiasco
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NB. The heading says 'anti-dam' activists attack ministers etc. - as 
the article explains it was the supposed dam supporters who did this.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/011100/detFRO05.asp)

Anti-dam activists attack ministers, burn cars
Rathin Das
(Naramada Dam site, October 31)

THE EUPHORIC celebrations to relaunch the construction work on the disputed
multipurpose dam turned out to be a total fiasco this evening as thousands of
irate people attacked at least two ministers and one ruling BJP MP following
spending many hours in the hot afternoon without food and water.

At least three cars, including those of the ministers, were burnt down as they
got stuck in traffic jams caused by state transport buses still arriving at
the dam site many hours after the function was over.

In a bid to gain lost ground, as reflected in the recent local elections, the
BJP Government had planned a grand rally here this afternoon by arranging
3,200 state government buses to ferry the people free to the site.

But every planning went topsy-turvy due to the lack of parking places and
narrow road near the dam site, causing traffic jams.

Many people who had started from the districts in the free buses last evening
were reaching the dam site till this evening leading to tension due to lack of
food, water or shelter.

Even late in the evening, several hours after the function was over, many were
trekking to the dam site although those who arrived earlier were unable to
move out due to the traffic jam.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Minister L. K. Advani today blamed western nations
for creating hurdles in India's quest for development by raising issues such
as degradation of the environment.

Addressing a huge gathering after re-launching work on the stalled Narmada Dam
project here this afternoon, Mr Advani wondered whether those opposing
developmental projects in the country were doing so on their own or at the
behest of some foreign nations.

These were the same people who had criticised the Pokhran blasts in May 1998,
he added.

Claiming that the multi-purpose Narmada Valley project was the finest example
of protecting the environment, Mr Advani said Indians need not be taught the
virtues of protecting the environment as they know these since their
childhood.

The Home Minister listed the resumption of construction work on the dam as one
of the three major achievements of the Vajpayee Government, the other two
being the 1998 Pokhran blasts and the victory in Kargil last year.

Mr Advani launched the resumed construction of the Dam project through a
remote-controlled device.

This device simultaneously poured concrete mixture on the dam and unveiled a
bronze statue of Sardar Patel whose 25th birth anniversary is also being
celebrated today.

Conspicuous by their absence were the Chief Minister of the three other
beneficary states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Apparently,
all three were were reported to have accepted the invitation to attend.

Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel administered an oath to the gathered
people that they would make every effort to remove the obstacles to the dam
project. Union Minister for Textiles Kashiram Rana, Water Resources Minister
Arjun Charan Singh, Minister of State Bijoya Chakravarti and many other
dignitaries were also present at the grand celebration.


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