KMSS president Akhil Gogoi along with members of the organisation stages an indefinite strike at Pandu Ghat in Guwahati on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, May 5: Anti-dam activists today launched an indefinite dharna at Pandu Ghat here, demanding that the vessels carrying materials for construction of dams be sent back immediately.

The activists included 300 members of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, an NGO, and students who oppose construction of big dams in Arunachal Pradesh.

Three vessels of a Bangladesh-based company carrying nine turbines from Calcutta meant for Lower Subansiri hydel power project, were first stopped at Biswanath Chariali in Sonitpur district on Sunday by Samiti members and were not allowed to unload there.

The project is being constructed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). ABC India Ltd is the transporter.

After being sent back by the Sonitpur district administration, the vessels today reached Pandu Ghat here in the morning and hours later the anti-dam activists staged the dharna.

“We will not allow the turbines or any other materials meant for construction of big dams to enter the state. Buckling under our pressure, Sonitpur deputy commissioner Tapan Kumar Sarma, asked the NHPC not to unload the materials. Later, the NHPC sent back the vessels to Guwahati, but we have information that they are now planning to stay here for sometime and secretly send them to Arunachal Pradesh. We are here to protest the move and will continue our agitation till the vessels are not taken back by the NHPC and ABC India Ltd, carrying the materials,” KMSS general secretary Akhil Gogoi said today at Pandu Ghat.

Akhil Gogoi, an RTI activist and peasant leader who has been spearheading the anti-dam movement, said they would continue to protest big dams in Arunachal Pradesh as the dams would have adverse impact in the downstream areas and on people living on the banks of the Brahmaputra in Assam.

“We have been protesting construction of 168 big dams in Arunachal Pradesh as the dams would pose threat to the existence of people, damage the farmlands and destroy the entire eco-system in our state. Once the dams are constructed, the excess water to be released during floods will create havoc in the downstream areas and during winter the Brahmaputra will dry up. Our fishermen will be jobless and it will destroy the crops of our farmers,” Gogoi said amid slogans by agitators at Pandu Ghat.

The Samiti members from Guwahati, Nagaon, Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji and Darrang districts staged the dharna and will continue to do so till the vessels are sent back from the state. Besides about 100 students from Gauhati University, Cotton College and the Handique Girl’s College took part in the dharna and protested the entry of the vessels and the big dam projects.

“The big dams would have adverse impact in Guwahati and would equally affect people at Fancy Bazar, Panbazar and other areas as the Brahmaputra flows by the city. Hence, we urge people of the city to come forward to protest the big dam construction,” Gogoi said.

“We have already submitted a memorandum to the Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner demanding that the vessels be sent back immediately. We warn the government that if the vessels are not sent back we will step up our agitation,” he added.