Assam Governor opposes big dam projects in Northeast

Guwahati, Jul 4: Newly-appointed Assam Governor Shiv Charan Mathur opposed setting up of big dams in the Northeast, saying they would cause harm to the environment.

Addressing his first news conference after becoming the governor of the state, Mr Mathur voiced the concern and joined the growing chorus against the big dam projects, which are being taken in Arunachal Pradesh and causing damages in the plains of Assam.

For three successive years, the dam has been triggering floods in Lakhimpur and Dhemjai districts of Assam.

The Governor said he would take up the matter at an appropriate forum to reverse the trend of erecting big dams in the region.

Arunachal Pradesh has taken up projects of six dams and many medium and mini dams now in various stages of completion for hydro power generation.

He said there should be a Brahmaputra Development Authority (BDA) which should be the nodal agency for all dam related projects in the northeast.

''I shall be talking to Arunachal Pradesh Governor General J J Singh. Already my Chief Minister is in touch with Mr Dorjee Khandu, the Arunachjal Chief Minister'' on dam related issues, he said.

The Assam government had blamed the North eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO)'s Ranganadi project for a flash flood in Lakhimpur district which wrecked havoc in the state.

Speaking about insurgency, he said the doors of Raj Bhawan were always opened for any effort to bring peace in the state.

''I'm sure peace will dawn over Assam as it had happened in Punjab. It will come'' he said.

About the vexed infiltration problem, he said that it was national problem and border should be sealed and solution should be found as per the Assam Accord.

UNI