The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) on Wednesday announced that it had no intention to carry turbine components and other equipment to the site of the 2000-MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric project under construction at Gerukamukh along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border — till issues, raised by various agitating groups, were amicably resolved.
The announcement came after hundreds of activists of the All Assam Students’ Union, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti took to the streets in different parts of the State to revive their anti-mega dam movement following media reports that the NHPC authorities were planning to transport equipment meant for the mega hydel project.
Two cargo vessels carrying the equipment have been stationed at Hatichar village in Dhubri district for the past two days.
Effigies burnt
The agitators raised slogans against the NHPC, burnt effigies of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and warned of more vigorous movement to resist any move to resume construction.
Work at the site has been halted since December 16, 2011 due to the protests.
Auction threat
NHPC Executive Director Rakesh told The Hindu that the equipment was lying at the Kolkata port for the past nearly two years. The NHPC was told by the custom authorities that they would auction it off if it was not lifted.
“Reports not true”
“The equipment will be offloaded in Jogighopa and not taken to the project site. The reports in a section of media that we are planning to transport the equipment to the site are not true. We are committed to resolving amicably the issues raised by the agitating groups. We have already initiated dialogues and sincerely hope that the issues will be resolved soon,” Mr. Rakesh said.
Biggest hydel project
The Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric project, a run-of-the-river project on Subansiri flowing through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, is the biggest one under construction in India.
Various organisations in Assam are opposing it as they fear it is detrimental to the interests of the people living downstream.
They have been keeping a vigil on movement of construction materials and project equipment to the site.
