United Opposition Forum of Assam demands review of Subansiri project

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: As many as 15 opposition political parties, which are part of the United Opposition Forum, Assam, expressed grave concern at the recent incidents involving the Subansiri hydel project and demanded its review by the central government. They asked the Assam government to intervene on the issue.

The Forum members said they were deeply worried about the falling river water level of Subansiri river and incidents of landslides at the project site of the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP) and the apprehensions of the people living downstream of the project, especially people in Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts of Assam living by the Subansiri river.

It should be mentioned here that the SLHEP is being constructed over the Subansiri river by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) at Gerukamukh near North Lakhimpur on the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Protests by students and rights groups in Assam have been plaguing the under-construction gravity dam with a power generation capacity of 2000 MW (8×250 MW). This run of river project is the biggest hydroelectric project undertaken in the entire nation.

The opposition parties, at a press meet here on Wednesday pointed out that three specialist committees formed to study the SLHEP had expressed concern over the big dam. Another experts' group of Assam had opined that the dam is not safe. The reason offered by the experts was that the main dam was located on sedimentary rock and that the rock is not safe. There is also the fear of earthquakes, as the project in located in the earthquake zone 5, which is seismically active, the experts had said.

The Forum harped on these facts and the recent incident of a rockslide that buried the diversion tunnel of the project, to justify their apprehension regarding the fear under which the people living downstream are living. The situation has been made more alarming by the recent sudden decline in the water level of river Subansiri, they said.

The opposition leaders also underlined the drying up of Ranganadi and Dikrong rivers, allegedly caused by construction of small dams on these rivers. They also said that the Subansiri dam would have a dire effect on the livelihood of the people living downstream as they are dependent on collection of sand and rock, apart from fishing, to sustain them. It was also pointed out that the dam would have a huge effect on the flora and fauna of the region. Fish species will become extinct, they alleged.

The Forum demanded that the Assam government should intervene and take up with the centre the matter of review of the Subansiri dam, citing the issues which are facing the people. They also warned that no work should be started on the proposed 164 small and big dam projects in Arunachal Pradesh without carrying out a 'cumulative impact assessment' study on them first.

The opposition leaders also promised that they would order a review of SLHEP if voted to power.

Also Read:   Assam: Lower Subansiri Hydro Electric Project Faces Ongoing Landslide Challenges

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