'No compromise on Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project'- Local body opposing the dam

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The undivided Lakhimpur district, including the present district of Dhemaji, is on the boil following the move on the part of the Union government, State government and NHPC initiated in order to complete the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHP) which has remained half-constructed since 2011 due to massive agitation programmes and the case which was under trial in National Green Tribunal (NGT).

In the wake of the NGT's verdict of the case pronounced in favour of NHPC some days back, the intensity of the protest programmes initiated against the contentious big river dam. It has increased in the district with various demonstrations of AASU, AJYCP, AJYP and other anti-big dam activists organizations. The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) by the State government and NHPC with regard to resumption of the construction work of the project on Friday provoked these organizations, as a result of which Lakhimpur AASU and AJYP burnt the effigies of the State government, NHPC and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in protest against the development on Saturday.

On the same day, the Namoni Subansiri Bandh Birodhi Aikya Mancha once again declared its 'no compromise' stand against the controversial big river dam project which, being set up in a highly seismic zone, is feared to be become a possible cause of devastation in the Subansiri downstream area covering Lakhimpur and Dhemaji upto river island Majuli. The organization re-declared its dead-set stand to oppose the project until the last drop of blood by organizing a meeting in North Lakhimpur town on Saturday.

Namoni Subansiri Bandh Birodhi Aikya Mancha, the common forum of 20 organizations, which came into being in Lakhimpur on August 18 opposing the SLHP, held its first meeting in order to chalk out its agitation strategies against the project as reply to the moves of the Union and State governments and NHPC in order to resume the construction work of the project just after the present rainy season. The meeting was chaired by noted environmental activist Bikul Goswami.

AJYP Lakhimpur district unit general secretary Sudipta Hazarika explained the objective of the event. Taking part in the meeting, Lakhimpur MASS secretary Raju Singha, Sajad Hazarika of Muslim Gana Mancha, Azad Hazarika of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, Prashanta Gogoi of Tai Ahom Yuva Chatra Sanmilani and many other dignitaries of the partner organizations of the forum, came down heavily against the issue and flayed the Union and State governments and NHPC regarding their move to complete the project, allegedly insulting the sentiments of the people of the State and democratic agitations against the project. The meeting unanimously declared that the organization would never approve of the MoA signed between the State Government and NHPC on Friday. Several crucial decisions were taken in the meeting regarding the agitation strategies of the organization to be intensified in the upcoming days against the project.

In the same meeting, a permanent body of the organization was constituted selecting Keshab Krishna Chatradhara, Sailen Baruah and Bikul Goswami as advisers, Raju Singha, Azad Hazarika, Sudipta Hazarika, Punyeswar Pegu, Anupam Saikia, Parashmoni Hazarika, Sunil Tirky and Sajad Hazarika as chief conveners and the district presidents and the secretaries of the partner organizations as conveners.

Also read: Lower Subansiri Dam: AASU On Agitation Mode!

Also watch: AJYCP stages protest in Nalbari