VADODARA, NOV 17: The Gujarat government, all along believed to be supporting the kar seva planned by the Narmada Jan Andolan (NJA), seems to have developed cold feet.The NJA, an organisation recently set up by farm leader Sharad Joshi to campaign for Narmada waters reaching Gujarat's drought-prone areas, has all along enjoyed tacit support of the state government. The proposed kar seva is a symbolic act: volunteers plan to pour water into the main canal.Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel last week reportedly told the NJA to postpone the programme scheduled to begin on December 4. Narmada Development Minister Jaynarayan Vyas told the The Indian Express yesterday: ``The intentions of the kar sevaks are good, but there are other ways of achieving the demands. However, it will take a couple of days to make things clear.''Vyas said the government was trying to work out a solution that would ensure that nothing came in the way of the early completion of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP).Asked if banorders would be imposed at the dam site, the minister said that question was be difficult to answer at the moment. He said the government would decide in a few days whether to invite Joshi for talks.The Chief Minister had reportedly told the NJA to postpone the kar seva, stating that if it went ahead with the programme there was all likelihood of the Supreme Court being prejudiced on the issue. Earlier, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister had objected to the kar seva, stating that the matter was pending in the Supreme Court.Vyas, however, said he was unaware of what had transpired between the CM and NJA members at their meeting last week.Meanwhile, at a meeting of heads of co-operative mandalis from various parts of the district at the Sardar Bhavan, Joshi exhorted pro-dam volunteers to go ahead with the kar seva. Coming down heavily on politicians, he alleged that they were trying to gain political mileage out of the Narmada issue. Observing that the Narmada issue had become like gangrene, Joshisaid that to solve the problems a kar seva has been planned. ``If the government thinks that we are doing anything wrong, it can arrest us,'' he said.Joshi also criticised the impression being conveyed by certain NGOs that the water would not reach Saurashtra and it would be taken away by sugar industries along the route of the canal.Despite some sadhus reportedly having backed out after the Chief Minister's statement, Joshi tried to keep the spirits of those present alive by stating that the programme would continue come what may. Former finance minister Sanat Mehta said it was unfortunate that the in Gujarat people do not stand up for their rights.
