Anti-dam protagonists protest Subansiri dam

Itanagar, July 29 (UNI) A group of anti-dam protagonists today strongly oppossed any development in the North East region at the indigenous people's lives here.

Addressing a press conference here, Arunachal Citizen Right (ACR) chairman Bamang Anthony and Nefa Indigenous Human Rights Organisation (NIHRO) vice-chairman Domin Loya said they were vehemently opposed to the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro Electric Power Corporation(NHPC) at Gerukamukh.

They described the project as a curse for the indigenous people and said despite the Supreme Court directives and strong opposition of the state government, NHPC had continued its construction work.

They also claimed that the NHPC had violated all constitutional provisions and existing environmental laws and cited the example of Rs 58 crore compensation paid to the Asom forest department for negating the interest of 5000 residents of 14 villages represented by the DBIPF.

They further said the local people were being severely affected with the project as it was disturbing their age-old traditions, rights over natural resources and their livelihood.

Explaining the negative impact of the project, he said it would not only affect the topography of the place but would also lead to the influx of the people from outside.

The protesters advocated environment-friendly projects like exploring solar energy to boost development and benefit the people instead of constructing big dams in this volatile zone.

UNI UPB PP SJC KD VC1922