Anti-big dam stir rocks North Assam; AJYCP initiates sit-in at Lakhimpur

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The anti-big dam stir has rocked the entire North Assam once again following the recent adverse impact caused by the controversial Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHP). Recently, the excess water in the catchment area of the mega river dam project, rolling over the main dam for consecutive six days, inundated an extensive area in the downstream area of the Subansiri River and affected more than 1,30,000 people.

Demanding the closure of the SLHP, several organizations took to the street with a massive agitation programmes across four districts of North Assam on Friday. The activists of the Lakhimpur district unit of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) staged a sit-in in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office. Leading the protest programme, Lakhimpur AJYCP president Hiranya Dutta, central committee assistant general secretary Sourabh Das warned the Union Government and NHPC to take steps to close the big-river dam immediately.

Similarly, the activists of the Dhemaji district unit of AJYCP, led by president Gyan Sarmah, general secretary Bishnu Sarmah, assistant general secretary Ratul Borgohain staged a sit-in at Gogamukh demanding the closure of SLHP. The protest programme was organized in association with the Gogamukh regional unit of the organization in the presence of a number of central committee dignitaries. On the other hand, the Majuli, and Biswanath district units of the organization also demonstrated sit-in in the district headquarters demanding the immediate closure of the project in order to save the life and property of the Subansiri riverine people from the future catastrophe to be caused by the SLHP being set up in a highly seismic zone.

On the other hand, the Lakhimpur district unit of Chutia Students' Union, on the same day, burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarmah demanding for the closure of the project. The organization alleged that the Union and State Government had initiated undue moves to complete the contentious SLHP for the interest of the corporate sector only. The organization further alleged that both governments and NHPC had ignored the greater interest of the common masses in this regard.

Similarly, members of the Lakhimpur regional committee of Veer Lachit Sena also demonstrated two hour long sit-in in North Lakhimpur town demanding for the closure of SLHP, control in the sky-rocketing prices of essential commodities, and cent percent appointment of the local youths in Oil India Limited.

Meanwhile, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) has intensified its stir against the contentious big river dam project in Lakhimpur. Demanding the closure of the SLHP, the activists of the Lakhimpur district AASU burnt the effigies of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NHPC on Friday. All 16 regional bodies of the Lakhimpur district unit of the organization staged protest in their respective jurisdictions across the district. By staging the protest programme, the organization expressed vehement resentment for continuing the construction works of the contentious project 'secretly' taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown situation and by ignoring the public protest against it. The organization declared that the protest would be underway until and unless the project was closed.

Also Read: Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad stages protest in Gerukamukh

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