NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Dec 25 � The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and its associate organisations today demanded that the Gerukamukh dam issue over river Subansiri be made an inter-state river dispute.
This demand was made by KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi at a press meet organised near Ranganadi bridge in North Lakhimpur, the site where a blockade against the movements of good to the dam site has been on since December 16.
Leaders of KMSS, AJYCP, AATASU and TMPK demanded that the issue of dam over Subansiri at Gerukamukh by the National Hydro-electrical Power Corporation (NHPC) should be declared an inter-state river issue to resolve the ongoing dispute.
They demanded that the Arunachal Pradesh government should talk with the Assam government over the Gerukamukh dam and stated that the blockade would continue till such a move was made.
The blockade of construction materials meant for NHPC�s dam site has taken a heavy toll in Gerukamukh, some areas of Arunachal Pradesh and in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji district as fuel services have been suspended by petrol depot owners over the police atrocities on them at Gogamukh last night.
The incident occurred when oil tankers that came to fill fuel for Gerukamukh dam site with police security were blocked by KMSS and other protesters at Gogamukh. The police resorted to heavy lathi-charge in which depot workers and owner and a scribe were severely injured. In protest the depot owners have suspended operation in both Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts. This has caused a heavy fuel crisis since last night. There have been also reports of food crisis in many parts of Arunachal Pradesh because of the continued blockade.
Our Staff Reporter in Guwahati adds: Claiming that the anti-dam movement at Lakhimpur led by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) has garnered support from all sections of the society, including the people of Arunacha Pradesh, the organisation today said that the Assam government cannot be silent on this matter now.
The present phase of the movement aiming to block all goods to NHPC project site at Gerukamukh has completed ten days.
�The ongoing road blockade and anti-dam movement have received support from a number of groups, communities and political leaders of Arunachal Pradesh. In State also various organisations and cross sections of people are supporting our movement and providing us food and other essentials to survive in the chilling cold,� a statement from KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi said.
