Maheshwar dam issue: Shivraj Chauhan attacks Jairam

Bhopal:

It's virtually Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh versus Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan over the Maheshwar dam issue.

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister has written a letter to the Prime Minister seeking intervention.

In the letter Chauhan says:

• Stoppage of the project at this juncture will result in loss of 7.2 lakhs units of power per day starting in 2010
• The Ministry of Environment and Forest has continuously threatened shutting down of this project despite state government's repeated assurances
  

On Wednesday an NDTV investigation had shown how work was on at the dam site despite the ministry's order.

Jairam Ramesh had reacted saying he was surprised and added that the project had not completed its commitment. He said company's should be ready to face consequences if they violated norms after clearance.

"I am surprised if the news is accurate that they are continuing work and I expect the company to abide by the directives of the ministries letter," said Jairam Ramesh, Environment Minister.