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Assam to push for expert panel

By Kalyan Barooah

NEW DELHI, Oct 14 � Even as the construction of hydro-power projects in Arunachal Pradesh threatens to snowball into a major controversy, Assam is going to push for constitution of an expert committee to study the whole gamut of issues.

With Arunachal Pradesh Government mounting pressure on the UPA Government, the possibility of the inter-ministerial meeting on hydro power projects of North-east, being further postponed looms large, highly placed sources said.

The meeting convened by the Prime Minister, was slated to be held on Wednesday but deferred to October 18, is now likely to be postponed to a later date. The issue has become very complicated and now more ministries, including External Affairs Ministry, have involved themselves, said sources.

Arunchal Pradesh Chief Minister, Dorjee Khandu has dashed off a protest note to the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister, while the State Government has started lobbying at the party level too and the matter has reportedly reached Congress president, Sonia Gandhi.

Khandu has asked the Prime Minister to ensure that Centre does not hold up environmental clearances for projects for want of cumulative basin-wise studies as suggested by the Environment Ministry.

�All major rivers of Arunachal originate in China and flow to India and there is speculation that China can divert the Yarlong Tsangpo before it enters India. Therefore, speedy implementation of hydro-electric power projects in these rivers is of strategic importance to establish India�s first user rights. It is needless to mention that any undue delay in statutory clearances will affect the nation�s interest adversely,� Khandu has argued.

Meanwhile, talking to this newspaper, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, perhaps in a bid to defuse the escalating tensions between the two States, clarified that he is not against dams but it has to be ensured that Assam�s interests are protected. �Our prime concern is flood moderation,� he asserted.

The Chief Minister is planning to call on several Central leaders including the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Ministers for Environment and Forest, Water Resources, Road Transport and Highway, among others, starting tomorrow.

The Chief Minister said that he proposes to suggest to the Prime Minister constitution of an expert committee, in which foreign experts may also be involved to study the issue of mega dams. �I am not an expert on these issues, so an expert team can study and give its opinion and suggest measures,� he added.

Interestingly, the hue and cry over the construction of mega dam in the upper reaches of Brahmaputra river intensified after the Expert Panel submitted its report, raising the red flag over massive construction activities in a geologically unstable region. It also pointed out that no environment impact studies on downstream areas were carried ahead of sanctioning the hydro-power projects.

�Though we are not against dams, the issues raised should be addressed,� said Gogoi.

�We need the dams, otherwise how can the water flow be moderated,� he asked.

On the impact of environment, he said a remedy has to be worked out in consultation with the experts

He said he is planning to call on Environment and Forest Minister, Jairam Ramesh to take up several issues including construction of four-lane Digboi by-pass, which has been denied environment clearance. Like in case of Numaligarh Refinery, we are prepared to compensate for the loss of forest cover by taking up massive afforestation schemes,� he said.

An alternate measure would be taken up to compensate for the loss,� he reiterated.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that he is in constant touch with Union Home Ministry regarding the proposed ULFA talks. �I have recently spoken to Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram and interlocutor P C Haldar also met me,� he said.

�We are hopeful that the talks would take place soon,� he said.

On the election of new PCC president, he downplayed the issue, stating that it is now prerogative of the Congress president to select the new leader. Gogoi is going to call on Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, ostensibly to press for selection of Dr Bhumidhar Barman.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister is busy watching the Commonwealth Games. On Wednesday, he was at the Games venue in both the morning and afternoon session. He watched table tennis in the morning and the swimming event in the evening. Today, he went to watch the closing ceremony.

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