[Assam] NHPC project may be catastrophic to Dhemaji (The Sentinel, 19.12.2007)

[Buljit Buragohain]

NHPC project may be catastrophic to Dhemaji
>From our Correspondent
DHEMAJI, Dec 18: With a 2000 MW electric power generation capacity, the ongoing mega project of NHPC at Lower Suwansiri in Arunachal Pradesh has been in the news since last one year. AASU and many other environment protection organisations and NGOs have pointed out the possible dangerous affects the project could have on the people of Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts in particular and the state as a whole. There is no guarantee to life and property of the dwellers in the catchment areas down stream when the excess water would be freed from the dam or in the case of any accident like land slide or breaking of the tunnel. People have not forgotten the 1950 earthquake when Suwansiri river was bloked at by landslide and when it was freed the river swept away hundreds of villages in the then Lakhmpur district. The release of excess water from a Bhutan dam with only 60 mw power generation capacity has caused extensive damage in Kamrup district. Likewise, heavy damage was caused by
 the breaking a dam on Changpo river in Tibet in 2000. Hence it can easily be gauzed at what would be the magnitude of the damage to be caused when excess water would be released or any accident occurs at tunnel or dam of the 2000 MW capacity.
The Brahmaputra Board made survey on the feasibility of the project in Gerukamukh (the present site of the project) in 1985. Only due to vehement protest of the Arunachal Government, fearing the heavy floods, the survey work was stopped while crores of rupees had been spent in vain. But interestingly, the Arunahal Government now plays a silent role and has given the ‘go ahead’ signal to the NHPC. 
Wanton felling of trees, shifting boulders and day night construction work etc are continuing in full swing presently. Asom and Arunachal governments were assured that 12 per cent electricity will be provided to these two States free of cost. Although vehement protests have been made against the construction of dams the present silent attitude of the two governments have made the people panicky. The fact that the region is located on a high seismic zone, appears to have made the people a lot more worried. 
Several reknowned geologists have pointed out that the rocks composition of the site at Gerukamakh where the construction of dam has begun was not suitable to construction of such a mega project and any accident could cause unimaginable loss of life and property in Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts. 
It is also learnt that entire Asom needs only 700-800 mw at peak house. People of this region are being shown a picture of the positive and not the negative aspects of the project. While several bodies have protested the setting up of the project, they have failed to create a mass movement against the project. As of now it appears that the Supreme Court might be the last refuge for these organizations by way of filing a suit against the Centre and the NHPC . In any case the Ministry of Environment is answerable for the wanton forest destruction while the NHPC has to answer as to what steps it has taken to preserve the Biodiversity
A high level team of scientists (expert committee) visited the site of the project and interacted with the people and different organizations. They also made a study on the possibility of damage likely to be caused down stream. However, the report has not been released till date. 
   
   (The Sentinel,19.12.2007)



       
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