All Assam Students' Union intensifies protest against big river dam project in Lakhimpur

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The AASU (All Assam Students' Union) has intensified its protest against the controversial Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHP), being constructed by NHPC Limited at Gerukamukh in Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border area, following the recent adverse impact caused by the controversial mega river dam project.

Recently, the excess water in the catchment area of the mega project, rolling over the main dam for consecutive seven days from August 26, inundated an extensive area in the downstream of the River Subansiri and affected more than 1,40,000 people. Moreover, the rapid surge of overflown water also reportedly collapsed the guard wall which was constructed to protect the main dam of the project. Jam of big trees being washed away by the river turned one of the eight main diversion tunnels of the project completely non-functional on August 26.

On Saturday evening, the AASU activists under Dhemaji and Lakhimpur district units unitedly staged torchlight rally in Gogamukh demanding the immediate closure of the contentious river dam project which has at present been considered to be an ominous cause for future catastrophe in the downstream area of Subansiri River covering Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Majuli and Biswanath districts of North Assam.

The rally, led by Dhemaji district AASU president Dipak Sarmah, general secretary Kalyan Gogoi, Lakhimpur unit conveners Sanjib Konwar, Simanta Neog, Faridur Rahman, Kanala Sarmah, Tultul Bhorali, was taken out from the Swahid Bedi premises in Gogamukh along the NH -15. State executive members Dhanmoni Dutta, Rajib Gogoi also took part in the agitation programme wherein almost one thousands AASU activist and local people participated. However, the Gogamukh Police and security forces prevented the rally from marching forward which resulted in confrontation among the security personnel and AASU activists.

Resorting the agitation programme, the organization cleared its stand that it would never approved of Union and State governments' move to complete the construction work of the controversial big river dam which had been underway by ignoring the sentiments of the State people and the report submitted by the Assam Experts' Committee.

"We will carry on agitation and strong fight against the SLHP. The Union and State governments must pay importance to the public opinion regarding the issue. The lives and properties of the downstream people must be ensured from the devastation to be caused by big river dam being set up in fragile hill located in the Highly Seismic Zone- 5," stated AASU State executive member Dhanmoni Dutta in front of the mediapersons. The organization issued warning to the NHPC Limited demand to stop the construction works of the project.

"The government has still not executed the report of the expert committee, constituted in the tri-partite meeting held among AASU, NHPC and the State government. The Expert Committee, constituted by the Union Government, must accept the opinions of the Assam's experts and the people of the State regarding the issue. We vehemently condemned the one-sided decision taken by the government to complete the project," said Dhemaji district AASU president Dipak Sarmah.

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