Debabrata Saikia calls for special Assam Assembly session to discuss hydel Power Projects, Security of Women

GUWAHATI: Leader of Opposition in Assam,  Debabrata Saikia has called for a special Assam Assembly session to discuss hydel Power Projects and Security of women.

In a statement Saikia said that three districts in North Assam are on the verge of destruction due to government mistake.

"When a mass movement started against the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric project during the Tarun Gogoi government in 2010, a committee was formed and tasked with submitting a report on the destructive effect of such projects on the Brahmaputra and other rivers. The committee had recommended following the CD Thate and Reddy committees, with the observation that a big dam should not be constructed on the proposed site", he said in the statement.

"The Sonowal government, however, signed a memorandum of understanding with NHPC in 2019 without implementing the recommendations of the bipartite agreement of 2014, which goes against Assam and leading to less electricity for the state. Arunachal will receive 200 megawatts of electricity solely due to the reason that the power house and reservoir are located in that state while Assam will receive only 25 megawatts despite the possibility of destruction here. Late Tarun Gogoi had not signed the agreement but Sonowal did so only to please Delhi. Now, water is flowing above the 115 metre dam in the Lower Subansiri hydro project, posing a big threat to the districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Majuli. A specialists’ committee had warned against building the dam at the present site in 2010 as the hill is composed of soft soil and poses a big threat to downstream areas as Assam is located in an earthquake- prone region. But the government did not heed the warning and completed 75 percent of the work, ignoring the protests by individuals and organizations in the state. Many protestors have changed their views later. We are not against big dams but adequate protection measures and concern for the environment should be kept in mind while constructing such dams",

Saikia demanded a special Assembly session to discuss the issue and take a balanced decision.

Further stressing on the importance of women, Saikia said,  Women in the state are insecure during the rule of the BJP government. A girl student in Dhemaji was attacked with a machete, leading to her death, in broad daylight. This is very unfortunate. Crimes against women have increased exponentially in the last 5 years of BJP government."

He demanded a special session of the Assembly to discuss the issue and pass a special law for security of women.

He also demanded that a special task force should be created in Assam police, with a lady IPS officer, and branches in every district along with  All Women police stations be set up in every sub- division so that women can come freely to report crimes.

Fast track courts for disposal of cases within 48 hours were also demanded.

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