TEZPUR, July 22 – Tension prevails here following reports of Government possibly using security force to bring back the turbines meant for the Lower Subansiri Hydel project – being ferried in by two Bangladeshi ships – besides construction of an approach road by the NHPC authority for off-loading the huge consignments at Jahajghat.
It is pertinent to mention here that various organizations – AASU, TMPK, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samitee, etc., – have been agitating in protest against the proposed mega dams in Arunachal Pradesh.
AASU executive member Nitul Bora, when contacted, stated that the AASU, since the very beginning has been voicing protests against the dams for the greater interest of the indigenous people of Assam. We are ready to face any consequences for sending back the turbines, he said.
“We will, at any cost, prevent off-loading of the turbines here at Jahajghat,” he said. “We have already stopped the construction work of the approach road by NHPC authority,” he added.
It may be mentioned here that there was a plan to carry the turbines to the project site by trucks after off-loading them here. This, however, did not materialise due to the strong protests launched by AASU and KMSS activists. They also stalled the construction of the approach road by the NHPC. Moreover, the two ships, which were docked at the Jahajghat then, returned to Dhubri.
The NHPC authority, which tried to off-load the turbines at the Jahajghat on several occasions, could not do so due to the vigorous protests by AASU, KMSS and other organizations.
Following this, the NHPC authority on July 7 wrote to the district administration here seeking help to unloading the turbines.
Following this, the district administration had an urgent meeting at the DC Office, along with leaders of AASU, AJYCP, KMSS and senior citizens. Attending the meeting, DC of Sonitpur Tapan Chandra Sharma, SP AP Tewari and other officials urged the organisations not prevent the authority concerned in transporting the NHPC equipment to their designated place.
