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.
