All Assam Students Union asks govt to ensure safety, security of people before any developmental project

The All Assam Students Union (AASU) says it would not allow any developmental project in North-Eastern region unless and until safety and security of the people living there is not ensured.

New Delhi: The All Assam Students Union (AASU), citing the example of an accident wherein a pipeline carrying water to a hydro-power plant burst in Assam's Dima Hasao district, has threatened to launch massive agitation against any proposed developmental projects in the North-Eastern region of the country in case due care is not taken.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya demanded that the union and the state governments must carry out a cumulative downstream impact study on the 168 dams that were either being constructed or planned in Arunachal Pradesh.

"We want development and power is must (for development). But we can't put life of our people living in downstream areas in danger for generating power," said Bhattacharya.

Talking about the recent accident, Bhattacharya said the union government and NEEPCO are responsible for it."We have seen the fate of officers in the Kopili hydro project, They are still untraceable. What would happen if some accident takes place in Lower Subansiri Hydro Power project" asked Bhattacharya.

AASU, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) and other organisations are opposing construction of 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro Power project citing danger to the people living along the downstream areas.

The work in the 2000 MW lower Subansiri project of NHPC is halted since 2012 following agitation spearheaded by KMSS, AASU and others.Meanwhile, officials of the NEEPCO told ETV Bharat that the rescue team would be able to clean the basement of the four-storey Umrangshu power station today.

"The rescue team have cleaned three storeys of the building. They are likely to reach to the last and fourth storey today and we are hopeful to get a trace of our missing officials," said H Bharali, coordinator, NEEPCO.

A high-speed water pipeline burst on October 7 at Kopili hydropower station resulted in massive flooding at the power station and three of the NEEPCO employee and a casual worker have been missing since then. The three missing employees have been identified as Prem Lal Balmiki, Robet Baite and Joy Singh Timung.

The identity of the casual worker is yet to be ascertained.

The rescue operation is being conducted by a joint team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (DDRF).