Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project power house inundated AASU flays NHPC

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHP), being constructed by NHPC at Gerukamukh along he Assam-Arunachal border belonging to Dhemaji district, has faced various problems caused by natural calamities during the ongoing rainy season. After the collapse of two guard walls constructed for the security of the Subansiri dam, due to torrential rain and landslide in the initial days in the month of June, the overflowing water of the River Subansiri has inundated the power house of the project by breaching the guard wall of late. As per report, the flood caused by the river has severely affected the power house of the mega hydroelectric project which is projected for generating 2000 mega watt (MW) electricity.

After the SLHP power house was inundated, the vice-president of All Assam Students' Union (AASU), Chitta Ranjan Basumatary expressed strong reaction and slammed NHPC in connection with its failure to ensure protection measures in the project.

"The NHPC has constructed the mega hydroelectric project as per its own whims and has completely defied the recommendations of the expert committee. As a result of it, multiple serious problems have affected the controversial project one after another and created panic in the minds of people living in the downstream area of the river. The NHPC is unable to construct the power house, the heart of the project, ensuring full protection to it. Under such circumstances, how will the power generating corporation secure the whole project? There are lots of defects in the technology which is applied to construct the project," said Chitta Ranjan Basumotary.

In this connection, the-vice president of AASU has demanded the State Government to 'curb' NHPC and to take steps to stop the project construction work until and unless the recommendations of the expert committee, National Green Tribunal and Supreme Court and the decisions of the tripartite committee meeting are executed.

On the other hand, the Dhemaji district unit AASU president Dipak Sarmah and general secretary Kalyan Gogoi demanded NHPC to stop transporting the construction materials to SLHP site taking the advantage of the night curfew initiated during the lockdown.

"In this regard, we demand Chief Minister Sarbansnda Sonowal, who came to power with the promise of securing jati, mati and bheti, to stop the construction of the project. At present, the undue occurrences unabatedly happening in the project and erosion caused by River Subansiri have created havoc in the downstream areas. If the Chief Minister does not show goodwill to stop the construction work of the project, we will intensify our stir against it with the support of the common people," Dipak Sarmah said.

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