Pro-Narmada dam activists in Gujarat have succeeded in forcing a fact finding team appointed by Union ministry of environment and forest (MEF) to put off its visit to the dam site. The NBA felt that what would be just another project review was not required. The team was to find out whether the closure of the dam's sluice gates had submerged entire areas, as alleged by the NBA, and whether those allegedly affected had been rehabilitated before the submergence took place.

The caretaker Gujarat chief minister, Chhabildas Mehta, had earlier announced that the state government intended not to cooperate with the fact-finders, even asking minister of state for environment and forests Kamal Nath not to send the team. Nevertheless, pro-dam activists had maintained a vigil at Vadodara's airport and railway station to block the team.

Besides, on March 20, pro-dam activists -- allegedly of the Congress and the BJP -- had attacked NBA's Vadodara office, contending that some members of the Central team were holding parleys with NBA workers. Ironically enough, the fact-finding team had been set up at NBA's behest, after it had stormed Nath's office in Delhi mid last month.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh has called for an all-party meet to discuss the Narmada project.