GUWAHATI, July 13 � The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) on Sunday demanded of DoNER Minister Gen (Retd) VK Singh to refrain from misleading the people of Assam about the �false benefits� from the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project and to immediately stop construction of this project and other big dam projects in the Brahmaputra basin.
Members of the KMSS today staged an early morning protest in front of the Brahmaputra Ashok Hotel where the minister was staying, insisting that there must be a serious and long term investigation of the geological framework, hydrological features of the Brahmaputra basin, seismological foundation of the eastern Himalayas and larger ecological connections with these aspects.
According to KMSS president Akhil Gogoi, the remarks of the minister on big dams were controversial and that the people of Assam were disappointed with the stand taken by the BJP government on the issue of big dams.
�We demand that the Government of India carry out a complete cumulative impact assessment of the Subansiri and Brahmaputra basins for all the dams by engaging independent scientific bodies,� said Akhil Gogoi stressing that there must be a cumulative impact assessments of all upstream dams in Arunachal Pradesh before clearance is given for construction.
�The question of downstream impacts along the river Brahmaputra must be recognized. Downstream impact assessments must be a precondition for all dam proposals,� he said, adding, the rights of the people of Assam over the water resources must be recognized by the Centre.
The KMSS has also demanded a tripartite discussion between the Centre, the Government of Assam and representatives of downstream people of Assam, who are agitating against the construction of the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project.
