Protests Erupt at Gerukamukh over NHPC Project

DHEMAJI: The Dhemaji and Lakhimpur district units of the All Assam Students Union led the protests against the Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric Project (SLHEP). The protesters created a human chain to protest the creation of this project. And they demanded the immediate closure of any activities related to further construction or any other activities at the site.

With heavy rains in Assam and neighboring Arunachal Pradesh, the rivers in the region reached full spite in the last few days. Videos of severe landslides surfaced from the region near the under-construction hydroelectric project during the 3rd spell of floods in the state.

The 2000 MW hydroelectric project is one of the most ambitious projects of NHPC and one of the most complex in the country. Apart from the direct environmental implications of the huge project, a major area of concern is the location. The SLHEP is located in a seismic zone five, meaning that this place has frequent earthquakes. Major earthquakes up to 8.5 on the Rickter Scale can also occur here.

A report by the Central Water Commission puts the Gross Storage Capacity of the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project at 1365000.0 Th. Cum. and the Effective Storage Capacity at 442000.0 Th. Cum. To get an idea of the capacity, the Umium project near Shilong has a Gross Storage Capacity of 181500.0 Th. Cum. and Effective Storage Capacity of 142350.0 Th. Cum. The Ranganadi Project has a Gross Storage Capacity of 347030.0 Th. Cum. and Effective Storage Capacity of 228510.0 Th. Cum.

The falling of a guard wall in the past and the landslides during this spell of floods have become the reason for fear in the people residing at the foot of this project. The Lakhimpur and Majuli districts will face serious damages in case of any problem with the project and huge areas on the banks of the Brahmaputra will be adversely affected.

Also Read: Massive landslide continues to affect Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project at Gerukamukh.

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