‘Ticking bomb': AJYCP rallies against Subansiri dam risks
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Dibrugarh: Activists from Asom the Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) staged a massive demonstration near the 2,000MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project at Gerukamukh on Saturday, demanding an immediate halt to construction until key safety measures are implemented.
The protest, held along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Lakhimpur district, was led by AJYCP president Palash Changmai. Demonstrators raised slogans against the mega project, alleging that it poses serious environmental and safety threats to downstream communities.
AJYCP activists demanded the suspension of construction until the expert committee's safety recommendations are fully implemented and public concerns regarding flooding and environmental degradation are addressed.
Protesters voiced fears that the nearly completed run-of-the-river dam could worsen flooding in downstream areas, especially impacting vulnerable communities along the Brahmaputra river system.
"The mega dam is a ticking water bomb that threatens the lives and livelihoods of thousands in Assam. We are not against development, but we cannot support a project that endangers our very existence. Construction must not proceed until all expert committee recommendations are implemented and our concerns are heard," Changmai said. The project on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, has faced controversy since its inception.
Designed to generate 2,000MW energy, it has encountered sustained opposition from locals, environmental groups, and student organisations who question its long-term safety and ecological impact.
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