Subansiri Hydro Power Project to come up only after environmental considerations: Jairam

Guwahati, Sep. 11 (ANI): Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on Saturday assured the people of Assam that they would not be affected by a proposed dam project in Arunachal Pradesh.

He said this after facing a protest by activists of All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the Krishak Sangram Samiti (KSS) at Guwahati on Friday.

Addressing an interactive session of Public Consultation on Big River Dams, Ramesh said that the 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro Power Project was sanctioned after his ministry had reckoned all environmental aspects arising out of its construction.

"I want to state clearly that the Prime Minister, Power Minister want the dam to be built after taking into account environmental consideration. We wouldn't let people of Assam especially of north Lakhimpur, Majoli and Dhemaji to suffer," said Jairam Ramesh.

Some non-governmental organization and experts have expressed concern and fear that people living in the downstream regions in both the States may be affected by the proposed project.

"The river is going to be degraded and livelihood of some will be wiped out from the vicinity and ultimately the bio-diversity resources, for which people have strong views, this bio-diversity will be lost due to degradation of habitat in the downstream ecology," said P Barooah, an environmentalist.

The proposed series of projects on the upper and middle River Subansiri basin will together generate 12,000 Mega Watt of electricity. (ANI)