NEW DELHI, Dec 11 � The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has been asked to conduct an in-depth study on the impact of the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project (LSHEP) on the seismology of the area in consultation with the expert panel. The next meeting is scheduled on January 7.
Amidst uncertainty, the first round of meeting between the Expert Panel and Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects of the Ministry of Environment and Forest on the impact of the LSHEP was held here today. The meeting remained inconclusive.
An eight-member delegation representing the expert panel, State Power Secretary, Sumit Jerath, two representatives of the Assam Assembly House Committee on the LSHEP, Member Gogoi and Girin Barua, besides representatives of NHPC and EAC took part in the meeting that was convened by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).
The expert panel briefed the EAC about their findings and justified their recommendations. The expert panel has representatives drawn from Gauhati and Dibrugarh Universities, IIT, Guwahati. The panel�s report has triggered a massive controversy in the State, with anti-dam movement gathering momentum.
The expert panel also confronted the NHPC, which had questioned the findings and submitted a report countering most of the recommendations.
Talking to this newspaper, Prof Jatin Kalita said that they had a fruitful meeting. The expert panel gave its views on the project. Though no concrete decision was arrived at. �Today, basically we talked about the broad contours of the issue and placed our opinion before the EAC,� said Prof. Kalita.
Meanwhile, sources said that the expert panel�s basis of study and data were accepted as valid by EAC and NHPC. The panel�s report was questioned on the ground that data used were old.
The meeting also decided to form a separate group to study the issue of impact on the seismology on the zone where the power project is being constructed. The NHPC has been given the responsibility to conduct the meetings with representatives drawn from the expert panel, geologists and members of EAC, sources said.
The EAC had earlier heard the NHPC on the issue and uploaded the NHPC version on the website of the MoEF, without hearing out the Expert Panel triggering fresh controversy.
The Assam Government had earlier sent reports of the expert group and the Assam Assembly House Committee on the LSHEP to the MoEF. These reports were forwarded to the EAC, which deliberated on the issue in October.
