The government on Thursday received with shock a message faxed by the commission's secretary-general, Achim Steiner, saying that six of the commission members would be visiting the Sardar Sarovar Project site, one of the affected villages, and the resettlement colonies, all on September 17.

What appears to have irked the government is the wording of the message, addressed to Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel: ``The six commissioners would like to meet your officials at Kevadia. "We hope that this visit will be fruitful in helping them (the members) arrive at a considered understanding of the complex issue of dam building.''

Reacting to the message, the chief minister is learnt to have directed chief secretary L.N.S. Mukundan to immediately dash a reply to the World Commission on Dams general-secretary, stating in no uncertain terms that Gujarat would oppose the proposed visit, and that it would not co-operate with them, for most of the members are known to be against big dam projects.

Following Patel's directive, the chief secretary's office faxed a reply to the World Commission on Dams general-secretary in the evening, which also categorically states that the World Commission on Dam's proposed visit to India may amount to influencing the Supreme Court hearing the case relating to the Narmada dam project.

The issue also figured in the state cabinet meeting on Thursday, where it was decided to oppose tooth and nail the World Commission Dam's visit to India, especially to Bhopal and Gujarat.

``We will not tolerate any attempt by so-called non-governmental organisations like the World Commission on Dams to thwart the implementation of the Sardar Sarovar Project,'' the ministers at the meeting asserted in chorus.

Briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting, the chief minister declared, ``The people of Gujarat will not allow the World Commission on Dams members to enter the state. "We can't expect the commission to be impartial and neutral, for most of its members, including Medha Patkar and L.C. Jain, are known for their anti-dam views.''

Patel said he had also written to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee bringing to his notice how the World Commission on Dams had directly faxed a message to the chief minister about its proposed visit to Gujarat, bypassing the Centre and thus violating protocol.

Asked if the government would ban the World Commission on Dam's entry to the state, he said, ``This will be discussed at an all-party meeting to be held here on Friday to discuss the situation arising out of the commission's proposed visit to India.''

Narmada Development Minister Jaynarayan Vyas said the World Commission on Dams ``existed merely on paper, and has no locus standi whatsoever''. ``It is a bunch of activists representing some so-called non-governmental organisations s and other vested interests,'' he said.

The commission's visit will certainly show the Sardar Sarovar Project in poor light, which, he said, would not be tolerated by the state government.