Baseless Allegations

THE statements of the chief minister of Gujarat, Keshubhai Patel and the union textiles minister Kashiram Rana opposing the visit of team of the World Commission of Dams (WCD) to India for the public hearing are outrageous and brazenly undemocratic. The allegations of the chief minister Patel that the WCD is "the west- dominated body and a self-appointed group of individuals opposed to large dams" is a most irresponsible insinuation about the distinguished international team drawn from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America.