Assam dam row: NHPC site wears deserted look

Following the failure of first round of talks between Assam government and the anti-dam groups, the NHPC dam site at Gerukamukh on the Assam-Arunachal border wears a deserted look as there is no movement of men and material in view of the blockade.
 
Both Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and All Assam Students Union are opposed to the NHPC's dam project at the lower Subansiri site. The agitating groups have continued their blockade in Lakhimpur district of northern Assam since December 16. The protesters have been demanding that the government should ensure safety of people living in downstream areas.

Agitations over the dam project began after an expert committee revealed that Lower Subanshiri hydro-electric project may have downstream affect. The experts believe that area falls within the seismic zone V which is very dangerous for such a project. The committee further said in its report that the rock of this part of the Himalayan range is very fragile and hence it is not safe to construct big dams.

Not a single truck carrying construction materials and diesel tankers is allowed to move to the project site. NHPC sources say there are around 5000 workers and employees working at the project site.

 As supply of materials like steel and cement is not reaching to the site, no construction work has been initiated since December 20 last year.

One of the workers, Jamini Baruah, from Jorhat district said that the workers faced acute shortage of the vegetable and other edible commodities at the project site .

“The authorities have sanctioned all the leave applications of the workers and have advised them to return once the situation normalises,” she added.

 Otherwise very busy and noisy, the project site, these days, has become very quiet.

Not a single bulb is lit at night as the generators cannot be run due to scarcity of diesel.

The NHPC authorities have earlier said that the project would be completed by 2012 and will start generating electricity soon after.