GUWAHATI: As the indefinite blockade in northern Assam against the NHPC dam site at Gerukamukh on Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border continued, the government today invited protestors as well as civil society activists, who have raised concerns for the dam, to sit for talks on Thursday.
The Group of Ministers (GoM) formed to deal with the anti-big dam movement met at the state secretariat here and decided to invite all concerned parties for talks on January 5.
“We would urge all agitators as well as others who have reservations about the big dams to come for talks with us on January 5 at 1000 hours,” Power Minister Pradyut Bordoloi, who heads the GoM, said after the meeting. He added that more meetings will be held in the future depending on the outcome of Thursday’s talks.
Meanwhile, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS)-led blockade continued to run parallel with another blockade being enforced by the AASU and several other organisations.
Members and supporters of these organisations blocked raw materials, fuel and even essential commodities for the Gerukamukh dam site at several places on NH 52 in North Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts.
A mass movement has been going on in northern Assam against the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri hydel power project at Gerukamukh, being implemented by the NHPC, against potential devastating downstream effects. (UNI)
