Friday, April 7 2006 14:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dharampuri (MP): Three Union Ministers visiting the villages affected by Sardar Sarovar Project in Madhya Pradesh today (Apr 07, 2006) faced the ire of protestors as they blocked the road in Dhar district preventing the ministers to proceed to the destinations for some time.

Angry protestors blocked the road when Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan were proceeding to an affected village during their one-day visit.

Alleging large-scale corruption in compensation distribution, villagers in large numbers gheraoed ministers, who arrived here after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directed them to undertake a stock-taking in the villages.

Singh's direction came after Narmada Bachao Andolan activists under the leadership of Medha Patkar began an indefinite fast in New Delhi demanding not to increase the height of the dam.

Some of the protesters even took away the keys of the vehicle in which Soz was travelling at Dharampuri, demanding that he should first hear their grievanaces, sources said.

Mild force had to be used to disperse the crowd and ensure passage of visiting ministers, police said.

Earlier, the Central team faced similar agitation in Khalbujurg, where oustees also protested moves to shift Dhamnod and Khalghat towns, falling under the submergence area.