MUMBAI, July 3: Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde today said whatever the outcome of the open debate between him and environmentalist Medha Patkar on July 26 on several objections raised by her and other anti-Enron campaigners regarding the Enron Power Project, ``the Government will not scrap the project''.

Munde, who also holds the Energy portfolio, told mediapersons that a panel of four persons, including Patkar, would represent the anti-Enron group at the debate at Katarwadi in Ratnagiri district, while he himself would lead the five-member Government panel.

The Deputy Chief Minister said he will be assisted by Indira Gandhi Institute of Developmental Research Director Kirit Parikh, Bharat Heavy Electrical's AA Raghavan, MSEB Chairman P L Gajralwar and Energy Secretary Ashok Basak.

Both Raghvan and Parikh were also members of the committee of experts set up by the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government to negotiate with the Enron Development Corporation.

Munde said prior to the talks, he would visit the project site in Guhagar taluk, ``to ascertain what the people in that area feel about the project''. The visit was also aimed at seeing how much work has been completed at the site, he said.``It will be just a debate. I will present the views of the Government and the need to complete the project in a time-bound period, while they will present their views.'' It will be followed by a question and answer session.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.