From Our Correspondent
TURA: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of student and social organisations protesting against the construction of a dam over the Daribokgre stream has on Monday announced several agitation programmes including two nights of road blockade in East and South Garo Hills districts.
The JAC of East and South Garo Hills announced the night road blockade from 7 pm to 5 am on May 20 and 21as part of its ongoing protest over the Daribokgre dam construction which has been temporarily suspended by the State Government.
The JAC wants complete dismantling of the dam and cancellation of the project over fears that diverting the water from Daribokgre stream would lead to drastic reduction of the water level in the Simsang river which is fed by several water sources including Daribokgre.
The protests by the JAC would begin with a pen-down strike appeal to government workers and a sit-in demonstration.
Meanwhile, the JAC has accused East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vijay Kumar Mantri of attempting to cover up the ongoing dam issue by delaying the dispatch of their ultimatum letter to the State Government.
“We submitted a memorandum with an ultimatum to the government through the Deputy Commissioner on April 23 but the letter was forwarded to Shillong only on May 10. There was a deliberate attempt by the district authorities to cover up the peoples’ protest,” alleged JAC spokesperson Silseng G Momin.
However, Mantri denied the allegations.
“I was on leave during that period and on my joining I had forwarded the copy addressed to the Chief Minister,” claimed Mantri.