GUWAHATI, Sept 10 � Experts, civil society groups and leading citizens today voiced their concern over the ongoing and proposed mega dam hydel projects of the NE region and said that the existing hydel projects have taught the people of the region some bitter lessons. They were speaking at a consultative meeting held by the Union Minister of Environment and Forest on the mega dam issue. The function was organized by the Centre for Environment Education at the Machkhowa Pragjyoti ITA Centre for Performing Arts here.
Addressing the function, Dr Bhagawat Pran Duorah of Gauhati University (GU) Geology Department said considering the high seismic vulnerability of the NE region, a serious apprehension is there that dams might disturb the tectonic stability of the region by accelerating its subduction under the Eurasian plate.
Dr Chandan Mahanta of IIT, Guwahati said that the tectonic issue was highly challenging, let alone the other environmental issues connected with the mega dam projects coming up in the region. It is really a matter of serious concern as to whether the NE region with its fragile environment would be able to sustain the impacts of the proposed hydel projects, he said.
Prof Dulal Chandra Goswami, an expert of repute in the Brahmaputra river system, said that the high rate of precipitation in the region is an important aspect and this has assumed seriousness in view of the climate change phenomenon. He called for a two-pronged effort to tackle the issues concerning the information on the Brahmaputra system for exchange of data at the international and national levels.
The hydrology and sediment load of the river system are extremely dynamic and there is tremendous knowledge gap in understanding the Brahmaputra system. Moreover, the region has a unique biodiversity and its wetlands are also connected with the big river, he maintained.
Chandan Sarma of Tezpur University said that the existing dams of lesser capacity are leading to adverse impacts on the traditional economic activities of the people of the region and a large section of the region�s youths is migrating to other areas of the country because of this. A large section of the people have already been displaced by the existing dams, Sarma added.
Dr Bibhab Talukdar of the environment group Aaranyak said that the NE region is one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. Here 900 species of the 1,200 species of birds of the country are found. The biodiversity of the region should be kept intact, he said.
During the interactive session, Prof Hiren Gohain said that the people of Assam living in the downstream areas of the mega dam projects are apprehensive of suffering heavy losses due to the dams.
In this connection, he referred to the report of the expert group which has stated that no site in the Himalayan foothills beyond the NBT should be selected for construction of any dams.
The Government of India seems to be caring more for the corporate houses, he said.
All Assam Students� Union advisor Samujjal Bhattacharyya said that there was no downstream impact study carried out while formulating the 168 mega hydel power plants in the region. There was also no cumulative impact assessment study carried out on either of these projects, he alleged.
He called upon the Minister to announce that no dam project would be cleared unless the cumulative impact assessment study is conducted in relation to it.
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) secretary Akhil Gogoi demanded that the Ranganadi, Kopili, and Kurishu Hydel Projects should be de-commissioned. He also alleged that the Lower Demwe Hydel Project would destroy the Lohit river, which is regarded by the Deuris of the State as the source of their origin.
Public activist Prof Deven Dutta, Ravindranath of the River People, Neeroj Vagholikar of the Kalpavriksha, Ranoj Pegu of the Mising Mimak Kebang, Parmananda Chayengia of the Mising Bane Kebang, Jonai MLA Bhubon Pegu, former MP Dr Arun Sarma and MLA Dr Alaka Sarma and Dilip Patgiri of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan, among others also spoke on the occasion.
Significantly, the Minister of Environment and Forest of the State was conspicuous by his absence in the function.
