The Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad, Lakhimpur district unit, on Wednesday staged a two-hour demonstration in front of the Lakhimpur deputy commissioner’s office, demanding a halt to the construction of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation’s Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric project and protection of five reserve forests in the district.
The state-run hydro power giant NHPC is all set to begin construction work of the 2000MW Lower Subansiri power plant in October this year as it has received the required site approval from the Assam government. The NHPC has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Arunachal Pradesh to set up the project in 2010.
NHPC signed the agreement with Assam on August 23, 2019 after getting a go ahead from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for the project on July 31 this year.
The Big Dam Opposing United Forum on Tuesday night detained vehicles carrying heavy machinery on National Highway 15 at Banderdewa. The blockade was lifted after the administration intervened.
The Subansiri project has been stuck for the past eight years due to various issues. A few days ago, the Forum had organised a torch-lit protest along the Subansiri riverbank.
A source in the NHPC said the project is expected to be completed in three-and-a-half years. The cost of the project has escalated to Rs 20,000 crore.
The source said keeping in view the fears of the people downstream, the dam is designed to withstand seismic activity up to the magnitude of 8 on Richter scale, due to which it will be one of the strongest dams in the country.
