AJYCP starts comprehensive blockade against NHPC Limited

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Resumption of strong agitational programmes against contentious Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHP) has once again rocked North Assam.

From Tuesday, the AJYCP (Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad), with the help of the public, started comprehensive blockade against National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited, the constructing organization of the controversial mega river dam project, which is projected to generate 2000 Mega Watt (MG) electricity after completion. As a part of the stir the protesters will block the NHPC vehicles carrying construction materials to the project site at Gerukamukh located in under a Highly Seismic Zone in Assam-Arunachal border area belonging to Dhemaji district. On this occasion, almost three thousands protesters staged demonstration in Gogamukh by the side of the Gogamukh-Gerukamukh connecting road.

Various anti-big river dam activist organization including All Assam Students' Union (AASU), All Assam Chutia Students' Union, Adivasi Students' Union, Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti, Unique Women Organization, Tai Ahom Students' Union etc have extended their support to the stir and the dignitaries and activists of all these organization took part in the demonstration by strongly opposing the project which was set up in fragile hilly area of Gerukamukh.

Leading the agitational programme, AJYCP president Rana Pratap Baruah, general secretary Polash Changmai came down heavily against the SLHP, NHPC and the role on the part of Union and State government regarding this sensitive issue of North Assam. In this connection, AJYCP general secretary Polash Changmai demanded the Union and State government to make the Expert Committee report on the SLHP public as per resolution taken in the tripartite meeting held in New Delhi on December 11 in 2014.

Notably, that meeting was convened by the Union Power Ministry and held with experts and agitating organizations with a view to ending the impasse over construction of 2,000 MW Subansiri Project. Some of the prominent organisations invited for the talks were Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP).

The meeting was chaired by the then Power Minister Piyush Goyal and co-chaired by the then Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

Further the AJYCP demanded the government to hold meeting over the issue covering all the agitating organizations in order to make an end to the two decade long problem regarding the project. Until then the organizations demanded the governments to stop the construction work of the project. The dignitaries of the organization has made it clear that the stir will be continued until and unless the governments fulfil the demands. In this connection, all the agitating organizations have issued threat to NHPC Limited too. The leaders of the organizations condemned the NHPC Limited for completing 70 per cent construction of the SLHP taking advantage of the sliding of the anti-big river dam agitation during the COVID-19 induced lockdown by violating all the treaties inked among the anti-big river dam activist organizations, governments and NHPC.

Notably, the AJYCP has initiated the agitational programmes as per decision taken in the public meeting held in Guwahati on September 11, wherein various experts, including geologists and hydrologists, had highlighted a threat to downstream areas of the Subansiri River. The AJYCP leaders expressed that the construction work of the project had been resumed without consulting 965 villages across four districts of North Assam in the downstream of the Subansiri River.

Also Read: Strong opposition to controversial Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project in Lakhimpur

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