13 hours ago
Students body seeks halt to mega dams and national disaster status for Assam floods
1
2
3
4
5
6
Dibrugarh: Members of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) on Monday took part in a three-hour sit-in demonstration in several upper Assam districts, including Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Majuli, demanding an immediate halt to mega dam projects and the declaration of Assam's flood and erosion crisis as a "national disaster.
"
The protests, organised simultaneously across district headquarters, saw strong participation from students and youth activists. The demonstrators raised slogans against the construction of large hydroelectric projects, particularly targeting the 2000-MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP), which they claim will exacerbate flooding and environmental damage in downstream areas.
In Tinsukia, the demonstration was led by AJYCP central committee assistant general secretary Surajit Moran, district president Prabin Tamuli, and general secretary Kalyanjyoti Moran.
Addressing the gathering, Surajit Moran said, "The govt is ignoring the warnings of experts and pushing ahead with dangerous dam projects. The Subansiri dam, which is now nearing completion, poses a severe threat to lakhs of people living downstream. Until the expert committee's safety recommendations are fully implemented and public concerns are addressed, construction must stop."
The SLHEP, located on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, has been a source of controversy since its inception.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting
Luxeartisanship
Buy Now
Undo
Local communities and environmental groups have raised concerns about potential downstream flooding, seismic risks, and ecological damage to the Brahmaputra river system. Construction on the project has faced multiple delays due to public opposition and legal challenges.
Prabin Tamuli, AJYCP Tinsukia president, said, "Assam faces annual flooding that displaces thousands and causes immense devastation.
This is not just a state problem — it requires national attention and resources. The govt must recognise flood and erosion as a national disaster and allocate appropriate funds for long-term solutions."
Similar demonstrations were reported in Dibrugarh, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur, where protesters highlighted how dam-induced floods have wiped out farmlands and homes. In Majuli, the world's largest river island, activists warned that unchecked dam construction could accelerate the island's erosion.
At the end of the protest, AJYCP Tinsukia unit submitted a memorandum to Tinsukia DC Swapneel Paul, addressed to CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, urging the state govt to take up the issue with the Centre.
