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NHPC giving more free power to Arunachal

By Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, May 21 � The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has been occupying more Assam land for implementing the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project (LSHEP), but allocating about ten times more free power to Arunachal Pradesh going against the set norms for allocating free power from the hydroelectric power plants.

This allegation was made by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) in a statement here today. The Samiti said that its allegation is based on the replies of the NHPC to its Right to Information (RTI) queries.

The LSHEP is occupying more Assam land apart from the submerged areas of the project, which fall in Arunachal Pradesh. For the purpose of stone quarrying for the LSHEP, the NHPC has taken allotment of 245 hectares of Assam land, against 15 hectares of Arunachal Pradesh land.

The Central sector power company has taken allotment of 37 hectares of Assam land against the 47 hectares of Arunachal Pradesh land for setting up the main project. But, it has taken allotment of 131.3 hectares of Assam land for construction of residential complexes and laying the roads of the project, against 14. 8 hectares of Arunachal Pradesh land.

The power company has acquisitioned 64.6 hectares of Assam land, against the 40 hectares of Arunachal Pradesh land for sediment disposal. However, it has been tactfully maintaining that the project would submerge more Arunachal Pradesh land. Moreover, it has not taken into consideration the downstream impacts of the project on Assam areas.

Ironically, the power company has allocated 12 per cent of the power being generated in the 2,000 MW project, to Arunachal Pradesh. This has been worked out to be 240 MW. On the other hand, it has allocated only 1.25 per cent of the power being generated in the project, which stands to be 25 MW, said the Samiti.

Support to Akhil�s fast: The Samiti said in its statement that at 13 places of the State, citizens have started indefinite fast in support of the fast observed by its general secretary Akhil Gogoi in support of his demands for abandoning the mega dam hydel projects proposed in Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan.

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