The Editor, The Assam Tribune, Sir, This is in reference to the news item “Dams, not Rain God, causing floods” published in your esteemed daily. We would also like to refer to news about the barges laden with the turbines of the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project (LSHEP), on a forward move to Gerukamukh site. It appears that Government of Assam is facilitating the movement of these machineries by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), trivializing and bulldozing the public opinion against the dam in its current form. The river Brahmaputra and its fertile valley is the lifeline of Assam. The river is providing livelihood to millions of cultivators, fishermen and their dependents and also to many others through water transport and livestock rearing. The great river is like a tree and every member of this population is like leaf, or a branch or a flower on that trunk. If the root of the tree is choked and stifled it will wither and it will die. The LSHEP project is going to change the course of the river restricting the movement and water flow. The possible consequences will be severe - (a) In the dry season, the river will have very low flow restricting the movement through the river routes and (b) During summer, sudden release of excess water from the reservoir when the rivers are in spate. There are already reports about raging floods in the district of Lakhimpur caused by the sudden release of stored water from dams. The expert group, drawn from the IIT-Guwahati and Gauhati and Dibrugarh Universities is expressing grave concern on these issues and also providing recommendations. It seems that NHPC is not considering any remedial measure and is continuing with the construction. It appears that Government of Assam is fixated on the single objective of power generation while ignoring the concerns and welfare of its citizen. The Government action is very reminiscent of the 14th century Sultan of Delhi Muhammad bin Tughluq known for his whimsical decisions. The Sultan of Delhi is most remembered for shifting his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad ostensibly to govern the kingdom in a central location. Instead of just moving his offices, the king had forced all the people of Delhi to shift. Thousands of people were killed while shifting. The transfer, later on was revoked, and the capital was shifted back. The impact of LSHEP on the other hand is irrevocable, the dam is going to squelch the river Brahmaputra forever and the river is never going to retain its glory. The State Government’s non-action on the recommendations of the expert committee is baffling. There is no way to know if they are addressed by NHPC. The river Brahmaputra and it's fertile valley is the lifeline of Assam, it’s going to be life and death for millions and we request highest consideration. We appeal to the Government of Assam to direct NHPC and not allow the forward movement of the turbines till the various issues and problems associated with the project are addressed. A concerned non-resident Ankur Bora Dallas, Texas , United States. _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
