Controversial barrage

HUNGARY'S last ditch efforts to halt the Slovakian hydro-electric project failed with Slovakia continuing to divert the waters of the Danube, Europe's largest river, into an environmentally controversial barrage along their common border.

While the two heads of state agreed on setting up a joint commission to head off confrontation over the issue, the construction is reaching a point of no return. Slovakia plans to divert much of the river waters into a 25 km channel elevated upto 18 m around the surrounding plain. The dam will supply 10 per cent of Slovakia's energy needs.