AJYCP demands closure of SLHP, stages massive protest at Gogamukh of Dhemaji district

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Following the massive landslide that occurred in the catchment area of the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHP) on April 3, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) resorted to stir against the controversial mega river dam project being constructed by NHPC Limited at Gerukamukh of Dhemaji district in Assam-Arunachal border area.

Notably, on April 3 around 9.57 am, a large part of the hill, made of soft, sedimentary rock, located in the catchment area of project on the left bank of the River Subansiri, slide down heavily and violently in the river basin by producing a robust sound and affected the Diversion Tunnels of the project adversely. The natural calamity, that took place in the project site before the onset of the rainy season of the year, has roused the apprehensions over the safety and feasibility of the mega river dam project with 2000 MW installation capacity. The report of the landslide has once again created havoc among the people living in the downstream of River Subansiri under Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Majuli and Biswanath districts of North Assam.

As a result of it, the Lakhimpur district units of AJYCP on Wednesday once again demanded the governments at the Centre and in the State to stop all kinds of construction work being implemented in the project and closure of the same forever. In support of their demands, the activists of the organization under Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts jointly initiated a massive protest programme on Wednesday at Gogamukh Chariali on the roads leading to the project site.

During the demonstration, the protesters burnt the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and NHPC Limited. AJYCP expressed vehement resentment over the support extended by the governments at the Centre and in the State to the NHPC Limited with regard to construction of the project, ignoring the public protest against it. Both district bodies of the organization declared that they would intensify the stir against the contentious SLHP in the upcoming days.