Arunachal Pradesh has informed the Centre that downstream impacts can be studied during construction of the 1,750MW Lower Demwe project which should be cleared as it will not affect Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Dibrugarh district of Assam. “The downstream impacts are limited to a few months of the lean season and will be confined to low-lying flood plains in the Brahmaputra basin. These impacts can always be studied during construction of the project.

Guwahati, Feb. 5: The Union power ministry has called a meeting on Wednesday in Delhi to break the impasse over the 2,000-MW Lower Subansiri hydroelectric project. There has been no work at the project site since December 16 — the longest halt to the project — thanks to the continuing agitation in Assam by the anti-dam brigade led by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti.

“The revenue loss in terms of delay per day is Rs 6 crore, apart from claims of contractors and additional establishment and warehouse expenditure,” a top NHPC official told The Telegraph.

The throb of the Subansiri valley will stop on the day when practically no water will be released by NHPC except in the peak period of the evening, and for all the winter months to come, the river, which is entwined in the lives of the people, which gives them sustenance, their rich culture and lifestyle, will die on that day for ever, along with the dolphins, fish and ecology of the river. This certainly is one of the most disturbing and important aspects of the Lower Subansiri Hydro-electric Project (LSHP)in the present form.

SILCHAR: Foundation stone for the much-hyped and politically as well as from ecological angle, the most debated multi-purpose hydel project at Tipaimukh in Manipur, popularly known as Barak Dam, was laid down on December 16, 2006 by the then Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. Union Minister of State Prithviraj Chauhan, Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh were present.

Guwahati, Jan. 19: The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti has rejected an IIT expert’s proposal to use a certain piano key weir technology for the Lower Subansiri power project, basing it rebuttal on its own research on the technology. Nayan Sarma, head of department of water resources in IIT Roorkee, had proposed use of the technology during a meeting with the state government, members of the expert groups and representatives of the civil society organisations on the Lower Subansiri project in Arunachal Pradesh.

GUWAHATI, Jan 19 – Voluntary organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) today alleged that the State Government has been deliberately ignoring the experienced ecologists, social scientists and experts on fields connected with the matter while inviting the people for discussion on the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project (LSHEP).

GUWAHATI: The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has alleged that the Assam Government is giving preference to the interest of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) instead of to that of the people of the State on the issue of the Lower Subansiri project.

The Assam Government has failed to pursue the Lower Subansiri project issue honestly. This is clear from the fact that while discussions are going on and the Group of Ministers gives an impression of its goodwill to examine the problem, it is repeatedly reiterating its commitment to build the dam — Akhil Gogoi

GUWAHATI: The Group of Ministers (GoM) which has been holding talks with all the organizations which are opposed to the construction of the 2,000-MW Lower Subansiri Hydro-electric Project at Gerukamukh will submit its report to the Chief Minister on or before February 15.

This decision was taken at a meeting of the GoM held on Wednesday in Guwahati. Another decision was taken at the meeting – to invite the 26 indigenous organizations for talks on the issue. This meeting with the representatives of the 26 organizations will take place before or after Republic Day.

Guwahati: Reeling under unrelenting blockade of goods, fuels and machinery to its dam site at Gerukamukh along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary by anti-dam protestors in Assam since December 16, the authorities of National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited have urged both the Central and State government of Assam to resolve the impasse to bring succour to the company staff and families living in the dam site as well to help resume the work on the project.