GUWAHATI: Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leader, Akhil Gogoi has threatened to stage an agitation against North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) and the Assam government if the flood-affected people of Golaghat district are not compensated for the losses incurred in the recent deluge.
Addressing newspersons here on Wednesday, Gogoi warned, “If NEEPCO fails to pay 100 per cent compensation to the affected people, we will have no option but to lay siege to their office and stop operations in the state.”
The firebrand leader alleged that NEEPCO had stored “three-times more” water in the Doyang reservoir in Wokha district of Nagaland and held the PSU responsible for the floods in Golaghat district, which he said, claimed five lives apart from damaging human habitation and crop lands.
“As against 14.28 million units of water, NEEPCO had stored 45.52 million units in the reservoir to generate three times more power. When the water level increased drastically following incessant rain in the upper catchment area since July 25, there was no capacity to store water in the reservoir and subsequently, four gates were opened two days later leading to unprecedented floods in the downstream areas,” Gogoi said.
Seeking a high-level inquiry into the incident, the KMSS leader said that following the deluge, several thousands of people had to abandon their houses and take shelter in camps and other places.
“Along with the release of water, layers of sediments have also flown downstream and had buried and destroyed several houses across the 116 villages,” he said.
As on Wednesday, 75,061 people across 97 villages are affected with 19,636 villagers taking shelter in 63 relief camps.
Gogoi further demanded that all loans of farmers who have lost their lands/property in the deluge should be waived and the inmates of relief camps be given a cash amount for them to return home apart from the compensation. “Care should also be taken by the health department to prevent the possible outbreak of epidemic as well,” he added.
NEEPCO had in a recent statement to the media, clarified that the water inflow to Doyang reservoir was much higher than the normal range of inflow which necessitated the release of excess water in a controlled manner on July 27.
National problem
The KMSS adviser also called upon the Centre to declare floods as a national problem.
“No one in Assam is serious about floods which should be declared a national problem. Besides, all big dams, including the Lower Subansiri project, which have triggered floods in various districts of Assam, should be closed down.