From Our Correspondent
TURA: Concerned over the effects of the damming of Daribok on their livelihood, seventeen Nokmas from in and around the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve held an emergent meeting on Saturday last with the Simsang River Protection and Development Committee and the Joint Action Committee from Williamnagar at Rombagre.
Disapproving the damming of Daribok for water supply to Tura the Nokmas voiced their concern during the meeting and unanimously decided to oppose the damming of the Daribok stream, a significant source of the mighty Simsang River that flows through Williamnagar in East Garo Hills and Baghmara in South Garo Hills all the way to neighboring Bangladesh.
According to the Nokmas the damming would reduce the volume of water and diminish the abundance of fish in the Simsang rive r thereby affecting the livelihood of the people depending on the river.
The meeting was attended by villagers from in and around the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve and various NGOs from East Garo Hills.
Meanwhile the JAC through a communiqué stated that the Meghalaya Home minister, Roshan Warjri in their meeting recently, had given her assurance that she would give her priority in to the matter.
On the discontinuation of their agitation the JAC stated that it would only be decided upon after a meeting between NGOs from East and South Garo Hills scheduled for sometime this week. A spokesperson reiterated that the JAC will not stop the agitation unless there was evidence of the cessation of the construction of the dam.