GUWAHATI: The spearhead of the anti-dam movement in Assam, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) has demanded scrapping of the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro-electricity Dam Project of the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), citing the disaster at Kerala where water released from dams with much smaller capacities have triggered unprecedented flash floods.
The KMSS on Thursday announced that it would renew its movement against construction of mega dams in the region to prevent the state of Assam being wiped off the map because of environment disaster that may occur because of these dams.
The KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi demanded that the under-construction, 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro-electricity Dam Project at Gerukamukh in Arunachal Pradesh at the state boundary with Assam, must be scrapped to prevent disaster in the state in future.
“The deluge in Kerala is man-made. It has occurred because of release of water from 35 river dams in the state. The water released from 780 MW Idukki Dam created catastrophe in Kerala. Now, you try to imagine what will happen to Assam valley and its people if water is released from al the 168 proposed or under-constriction river dams in Arunachal Pradesh. The state of Assam will just be wiped off from the map,” the KMSS leader and commented that Kerala state government had ignored the reports of experts panel against construction of river dams in the state.
Gogoi said that National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) has completed construction of the main dam its 2000 MW Lower Subansiri project besides constructing major portions of power house and tunnel. He said there was no way left except scrape the project so save the region from possible catastrophe. The KMSS leader demanded constitution of an experts’ panel to study environment disaster that may occur due to presence of dams in the region. He said the government should have learnt a lesson from disaster caused by release of excess water from dams of Ranganadi, Kopili and Doyang power projects in the region.