NEW DELHI, June 19 � After formally conveying his opposition to the proposed Middle Siang Project, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Union Minister for Water Resources (MoWR) Uma Bharti today firmed up plans for setting up the North East Brahmaputra River Rejuvenation Authority (NEBRRA).
The issues connected with flood management came up for discussion at the Eighth High Powered Review Board Meeting on Brahmaputra Board here this afternoon.
Emerging from the meeting, the Chief Minister told newsmen that the State government has opposed the proposed Middle Siang Project, being touted by the MoWR as an answer to the flood and erosion problems of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
�Assam has opposed Middle Siang project and even objected to preparation of the detailed project report. There was a presentation on the proposed project, but I told them that the project may be sustainable from your point of view but until and unless my experts vet it and clear it, we cannot say yes,� he asserted.
�My experts from IIT and State government have to clear it first. The Subsansiri hydro power project had to be modified after the experts pointed out the faults in the project,� he argued.
�We have to ascertain the long term impact of the project. I have never said yes to the project as they claimed, and today I made it clear to them that we have never given consent to the Middle Siang project,� he said.
The Chief Minister further said that he reminded Bharti that the MoWR owes the Assam government Rs 750 crore, which is pending payment since the 11th Plan period. The MoWR is to pay Rs 250 crore earmarked in the 11th Plan and Rs 500 crore due from the 12th Plan period. The State government has cleared its dues, like the State share, but the Centre�s contribution is yet to come,� he said, expressing his doubts whether the Modi government would clear it at all.
