GUWAHATI, Oct 14 - Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said that the reported move by China operationalizing a hydro-power station on the Brahmaputra river is going to cause irreparable damage to Assam and other parts of the Brahmaputra basin.
In a statement, Gogoi said that the Government of Assam has all along been taking up the issue with the Government of India on the reported move of China building dams on the Brahmaputra since long. Gogoi also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the matter with Chinese President during the former�s last visit to China. Prime Minister Modi perhaps did not take up the matter seriously which is of vital importance to the people of Assam and North East.
Gogoi said, �I have pleaded before the Prime Minister to take up the issue with the President of China during his visit to that country. However, I had serious doubts whether he took up the matter at all.� Gogoi further said the fact that China has built dams on the Brahmaputra has left the Government of India unaware which itself is a clear indication of the Centre�s casual approach which virtually failed to persuade China to desist from going ahead with the construction.
Gogoi observed, �It is an utter failure at the highest diplomatic level to prevail upon China not to go ahead with the construction plan. What purpose will it serve if the bonhomie and camaraderie generated by talks could not be translated into concrete actions vis-a-vis protecting India�s interests?�
�If Prime Minister Modi�s much vaunted Act East Policy does not act when it matters the most to the people of Northeast then in whose interests the policy has been rechristened,� Gogoi asked.
