Construction work on the 2000MG Lower Subansiri hydel project on the Arunachal Pradesh border has stopped since December. It has been so despite assurances of the state governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh that security will be provided to face the ongoing protests of anti-dam groups. The public sector National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is said to be suffering a daily loss of Rs. 4 to 5 crore since anti-dam protestors including the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and All Assam Students Union (AASU) mounted an agitation last December. The project cost has gone up from Rs. 6,285.33 crore to Rs. 10, 799.63 crore on account of the delay. Most of the 4,000 odd workers hired by the NHPC have quit. Even if the project work resumes immediately, it will not be completed before December 2015. The anti-dam protestors feel that the project does not take into consideration the downstream impact except for a 10Km stretch. A two-member committee was set up by the Planning Commission last year to look into the complaint but it has not yet submitted its report.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has said that the halting of the work was unreasonable. He reported that a group of international experts would soon visit the dam site. If they suggest any corrections, that will be done. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Taki has also stated that both Assam and his state will directly benefit from the project. Arunachal will earn an annual revenue of about Rs. 241 crore additionally. Assam for its part will get power. Power shortage is the chief hurdle to infrastructural development in the region. The Subansiri project will more than meet the shortage in power generation in the entire Northeast. The sooner work resumes on the project, the better.
