3000 MW Dibang Project in loggerhead between NHPC & AIMSU

ROING Apr 29: The 3000 MW Multi-Purpose Project is caught in controversy and has triggered a spate of protest spearheaded by All Idu Mishmi Student Union (AIMSU) since the day the Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (APSPCB) has started its onus of conducting the public hearing of the mega project for the most crucial part of ‘the environment clearance’.

Unfortunately things are not going well as expected by the corporate body, the NHPC. Amid must uproar made by the union the public hearing for the downstream was successfully conducted on January 31 2007 last.

However, public hearing for the upstream remains pending in anticipation till date. Though public hearings were scheduled nine times yet it never succeeded.

NHPC officials never thought that such situation would arise in the process of clearance. Misunderstanding the mettle of the public and their intellect that were apparently evident when the public hearing was proposed first time on 23rd of May at Roing (Down-Stream) and 25th May at New Anaya (Up-stream) 2007.

AIMSU has been protesting tooth and nail with the innumerable deficiency, loopholes and shortcoming especially in the Detail Project Report (DPR), Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and Relief & Rehabilitation (RR) which failed to satisfy them. They also demanded the review of overall reports such as relocation of land for rehabilitation, realignment of 20 Km BRO’s submerged road, RR package as per the present market index price and making of comprehensive awareness of the benefits of mega project to those affected citizens.

The union also expressed dissatisfaction over the inadequate awareness campaign about the project. It has been demanding immediate scraping of the dam following obvious condition that hits them hard.

The fear of dam burst, demographic changes, massive degradation of ecologically sensitive fragile areas, marginalization of Idu tribe, lost of culture and identity, lack of adequate mechanism in the development packages are the other factor that looms doubt most to them.

“The largest structure in highest seismic zone”, why this sort of bulky development thrust to us? Why not small dam? The national interest project should not be at the cost of the people”, react Tone Mickro GS AIMSU.

Amidst pandemonium on this issue, AIMSU acquires support from neighbouring state of Assam including All Assam Student Union (APSU), Sadiya Mohokuma Suraksha Samiti (SMSS), All Tai Ahom Student Union (ATASU), Dibang Valley Student Union (DVSU), Dam Affected Citizen Committee (DACC) from Dibang and Lower Dibang Valley District.

These organisations also started blockade of the NH-37 in between Shantipur check gate and Sadiya ferry ghat as a means to address their demand.

The project still becomes the talk of the town and the citizen keep in comparing with package of huge development and intensity of lost cause by the mega dam.

AIMSU at every point is playing a role model in informing the affected citizens about the demerits poised to the indigenous community.

At every series of their protest in the form of bandh call, the organisation proved adamant in its logical point and the government has been found to be a mute spectator finding no substantial solution.

The union with time have acquired certain level of position with befitting tools of information to question the GoI about the deficiency of the project. The rescheduling of public hearing one after another by the APSPCB has become a mockery.

Whereas the sources from NHPC said that the public hearing is a part of the project included recently by the GoI to facilitate a platform to address public grievances and to heed their demand if anything left out.

NHPC has at last an option in getting clearance from the Ministry of Forest & Environment (MoFE) if public hearing failed to hold, the sources further reveals.

NHPC boast of a lot of avenues and development benefits that the district will be gaining, bringing an era of resurgence in development aspect in this remote and backward region of India, whereas the Herculean effort to convince the people also bore no fruit despite the completion of five years in its office of the NHPC.

The must-awaited project is yet to see any tangible result.