Controversy over naming dam after Atal

Shivpuri, MP, July 17 (UNI) A controversy arose over naming of the Madikheda dam, which was completed in three decades at a cost of Rs 608 crores on the Sindh river 27 km from here.

The dam is scheduled to be formally inaugurated tomorrow by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu.

A banner war over naming of the dam is going on in the district.

In this regard, a banner apparently put up by the district administration proclaimed it as 'Atal Sagar Bandh' after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee while the freedom fighters led by Mr Lal Singh demanded that it should be named after martyr Tatya Tope.

To support their claim the freedom fighters put up a photograph of the foundation stone laying function three-decades ago naming the dam after Tatya Tope.

The photograph depicts then chief minister late Veerendra Kumar Sakhlecha and veteran BJP leader late Vijayaraje Scindia.

A 'padyatra' led by Mr Lal Singh was taken out from here last evening to the dam site to press for their demand.

Social workers and Congress activists also took part in the march. The dam will irrigate land in Shivpuri, Gwalior, Bhind and Datia districts in north-western Madhya Pradesh besides generating 60 MW electricity.

UNI XC-KV SP 1709