GUWAHATI, Jan 19 � Voluntary organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) today alleged that the State Government has been deliberately ignoring the experienced ecologists, social scientists and experts on fields connected with the matter while inviting the people for discussion on the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project (LSHEP).
In a statement here, the voluntary organisation has demanded a convention involving all experts-including the ones from the State, Prof Nayan Sarma of the IIT, Roorkee, social scientists, environmental experts, among others -- on the issue in a transparent manner.
It has dismissed the claim made by the Government that Prof Nayan Sarma has given some solutions to the tangle as the product of an unscientific approach towards the issue. The KMSS is very much critical of the stand of Prof Sarma on the LSHEP issue.
The voluntary organisation has demanded that the State Government should assert its right in relation to the LSHEP to ensure safety and ecological security of the State's people. Until this is done, the State Government should ask the Centre to suspend the construction activities of the project.
It has demanded sincere involvement of the State Government in resolving the LSHEP tangle by taking the people of the State into confidence. Further, it has said, the State Government should immediately demand change in the Government of India�s
policy on share of power from the hydroelectric power projects coming up in the NE region in favour of Assam.
Besides, it has said the State Government should also demand a change in the Centre�s policy on the matter of downstream impact studies. The Centre�s policy of covering only 10 km distance from the dam site under such studies needs revision covering the entire length of the rivers on which the projects are coming up, said the voluntary organisation.
Without a change in this policy downstream impact studies concerning the hydel projects are meaningless, claimed the voluntary organisation.
It has reiterated the demand of urgent diplomatic talks by the Centre with the Chinese Government to prevent construction of dams on the transnational rivers that flow through China and India.
