Assam BJP in a spot over Subansiri construction nod

GUWAHATI: The Centre’s nod to resume construction of the 2000-MW Lower Subansiri hydroelectric project at Gerukamukh in Arunachal Pradesh has made it difficult for Assam BJP to justify its stand given that the saffron party in the state has long been opposing the project tooth and nail.
During a meeting with Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki in New Delhi recently, the Union minister of state for coal, power and renewable energy, Piyush Goyal, assured Tuki of resolving the stalemate over the Lower Subansiri project and resume its construction soon.
Construction has remained stalled for over two years following stiff opposition by anti-dam organizations in Assam. The anti-dam activists have always said Assam would have to bear the brunt of the environmental hazards from the project as it is located in the downstream.
The anti-dam movement in the state has been spearheaded by several organizations like Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad and All Assam Students’ Union. The Assam BJP took the stand of not supporting the construction as the dam would put life and property of people in Assam at stake. Even before the 2011 assembly election, BJP, in its poll manifesto, made it clear that it was against the project.
With the NDA government at the Centre assuring of expediting the pending construction work, BJP leaders from Assam, including parliamentarians and legislators, met the Union power minister on Thursday to clear their stand on the issue.
“We have approached the Union power minister to hold a threadbare discussion with all organizations opposing the project, the 14 MPs from Assam, representatives of Assam government and experts before resuming construction,” said BJP’s state vice-president Siddhartha Bhattacharya.
Mostly locals from Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts, which form the Lakhimpur parliamentary constituency, are opposing the project, a BJP source said. BJP state president Sarbananda Sonowal won from the constituency in the Lok Sabha polls, he added. “We will cash in on the anti-dam sentiment in the constituency as our party has already made its opposition on the project clear to the public,” a BJP source said.
BJP spokesperson Shiladitya Dev said the northeast needs development keeping in mind the safety of people.