Anti-dam protests in Assam have once again erupted after the administration helped NHPC Ltd, the developer of the 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro Electric Project (LSHEP), forcibly carry an over dimensional consignment (ODC) to the project site at Gerukamukh, along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.
The mood among common people, particularly in Upper and eastern Assam districts, is against the construction of mega-dams in upper reaches of Brahmaputra. The fear is of perceived threat of submergence of riparian areas due to flash floods post commissioning of mega-dams.
Though the protests are now particularly against the LSHEP, in general they are against the construction of any mega-dam in Arunachal Pradesh, a state which has been said to be the future power house of India with a potential of generating around 40,000 MW of hydro power.
After thousands of protestors, from at least 26 civil and students’ organisations took to the streets, the movement of the ODC has been temporarily suspended by the administration and is presently being parked in eastern Assam’s Lakhimpur town. The protests are now centred in and around Lakhimpur town, which is around 30 kms from Gerukamukh. The protestors claim the ODC to be a “turbine”, but the state government said it was a “draft tube cone”.
The protestors have demanded the “turbine” be pushed back immediately and the work at the project site be stopped. However, the state government is firm in its decision and said “construction of LSHEP will not stop.” “There is no question of halting the project,” said Assam’s Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi today. The anti-dam protests in Assam had gained momentum since 2010 after a state level expert committee expressed concerns and reservations over mega dams being developed in upper reaches of river Brahmaputra and particularly against the LSHEP. Stating that most of the concerns and fear of the protestors were “baseless”, Bordoloi said the Planning Commission has constituted a two member ‘technical expert committee’ on 12 January 2011, to look into the concerns raised by a state level expert committee. Chandrakant Damodar Thatte and MS Reddy, both former secretaries of Union water resource department, will be the members of the committee.
“Yes, I will talk to them (protestors), but then appropriate moment has not yet arrived. We don’t have any prestige issue, but we will not give in to demand and threat,” added Bordoloi.
Arunachal Pradesh has already signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) for around 168 hydro projects across the state, most of them with private companies. Support from Assam will be critical for construction of those hydro projects in Arunachal Pradesh as transportation of ODCs have to done via Assam.