GUWAHATI, Jan 14 � The State's experts, who carried out study on the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project (LSHEP), today explained their stand on these projects to the Group of Ministers (GoM) formed by the State Government on the issue.
Coordinator of the expert group Prof Jatin Kalita of Gauhati University (GU) told this newspaper that they explained the recommendations they have made in their report on the downstream impact of the LSHEP to the GoM.
The GoM members told the experts that they had grasped the points raised by the latter and had accepted their report. Moreover, the report of the expert group was placed in the State Assembly and was accepted by its members.
The GoM further told the experts that the State Government has taken up the vital issues raised by the latter with the Central Government and is trying to implement their recommendations.
Moreover, the GoM told the experts that the State Government is examining the ways to implement the third recommendation of the expert group which suggested redesigning the LSHEP by sufficiently reducing its dam height and production capacity.
The expert group established its point on the site of the LSHEP. In its recommendation, the experts have said, "The selected site for the mega dam of the present dimension was not appropriate in such a geologically and seismologically sensitive location. The seismic design parameter is not properly chosen for the project. According to the investigation, the recommended seismic design parameter is at 0.5 or more. Therefore, it is recommended not to construct the mega dam in the present site."
Prof Kalita said that the GoM has not given any time frame for implementation of the recommendations of the State's experts but said that it would hold further discussion with them in the days to come.
Meanwhile, the State Council of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has condemned the yesterday police action on the anti-mega dam activists in Lakhimpur district.
