STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, has urged Union Power Minister Manohar Lal to halt further progress on the Dibang Valley Hydro-Electric Project in Arunachal Pradesh until all downstream concerns of Assam are thoroughly addressed.
In a letter to the Union Minister, Saikia highlighted the negative experience with the Lower Subansiri Hydro-Electric Project, which faced years of mass protests in Assam due to unaddressed safety, environmental, and livelihood concerns. He warned that overlooking similar issues in the much larger and ecologically sensitive Dibang project could trigger widespread public opposition and erode trust in the government.
Saikia pointed out that the districts of Dhemaji, Tinsukia, and Dibrugarh are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of upstream hydropower development. He presented a five-point demand to the Union Government: Inclusive Public Consultations in all affected districts, conducted in local languages and involving grassroots stakeholders; Independent Cumulative Impact Assessment of the Dibang and other upstream hydropower projects; Formal Consent from the Assam state government and involvement of downstream district administrations in project planning; Structural Safety Reviews that account for seismic risks, dam-break scenarios, and climate impacts and Advance Mitigation Measures, including early warning systems, flood management strategies, disaster compensation plans, and continuous ecological monitoring.
Saikia also cited the Assam Assembly’s 2010 House Committee recommendations and the report of the Technical Expert Committee led by Dr. C.D. Thatte and Dr. M.S. Reddy as key references for making informed and responsible decisions regarding the project.
Also Read: Debabrata Saikia Slams Govt Over Aerocity Project Land Acquisition
Also Watch: