TEZPUR, Aug 12 � Registering strong protest against all the proposals to set up mega dam projects in the Himalayan range, which has been identified as a seismically sensitive area, and the proposed dams in Arunachal Pradesh, KMSS general secretary Akhil Gogoi urged the people of Sonitpur district to stand united against the Government and the NHPC�s �anti-people� activities.
It may be mentioned here that sensation still prevails in Sonitpur district, particularly in Tezpur, following possible arrangements and security measures put into place by the Sonitpur police to bring back the turbines carried in two Bangladesh vessels and meant for the Lower Subansiri hydel project to the construction site through the approach road by the NHPC authorities for offloading the huge consignments, including the turbines, at Jahajghat here.
In protest against the proposed mega dams in Arunachal Pradesh, various organisations including the AASU, TMPK, KMSS, etc., have been staging different agitational programmes.
Interacting with media persons here, KMSS general secretary Akhil Gogoi alleged that even after repeated appeals to the authorities concerned, the latter have been trying to bring back the two turbines being carried in Bangladesh vessels which were sent back from the Tezpur Jahajghat area a year back by AASU, TMPK and KMSS activists by neglecting the interests of the common people.
�We are firm in our decision that the NHPC authorities would never be allowed to bring back the turbines meant for the projects. For this, we are ready to face any consequences,� the peasant leader said. He added that the NHPC authorities which at first planned to produce 70,000 MW power by 168 power projects has been planning to produce 1 lakh MW power by constructing more new dams which will destroy the ecological balance and the biodiversity of the region. Due to this devastating decision by the NHPC authorities, the livelihood of lakhs of fishermen would be jeopardised, Gogoi cautioned.
He further stated that since the very beginning of the issue, KMSS in cooperation with various organisations has been opposing the mega dams in the greater interest of the indigenous people of Assam and, accordingly, they are ready to face any consequence for sending back the turbines.
Earlier, the peasant leader visited the Jahajghat area and urged the associate organisations and the people to remain alert so that the NHPC authorities cannot take the turbines back to the work site.
