By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: When the reported move of the Assam government to construct a dam over Khri river has raised concern not only among environmentalists, political parties but also traditional institutions, the State Government is trying to buy time to respond to the issue.
The Water Resources Minister Rowell Lyngdoh on Tuesday said that there was no official complaint regarding the Assam Government’s move.
It may be mentioned that anti-dam protestors from all over the Northeastern states had converged at Mairang recently to lend their support to the campaign of Indigenous Biodiversity and Social Welfare Organisation, which is opposing the Assam Government’s move to construct a dam over Khri river (called Dron River in Assam).
“There has been no official complaint in this regard. If people lodge complaint officially, naturally we will take up the matter, ” Lyngdoh said.
According to Lyngdoh, once complaint is received the state government would verify if the dam would affect Meghalaya or not.
The anti-dam protestors had assessed that 8 villages and around 7,000 people would be affected if the 2MW micro hydel project in greater Langpih takes shape.
However, the Deputy Chief minister assured that the Government would send its officers to investigate the matter “if the residents of Meghalaya complain that the proposed dam would affect the villages and people of the State.”