Guwahati, March 7: The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), one of the organisations opposing big dams in the Northeast, today reiterated its demand for scrapping of the stalled 2,000MW Lower Subansiri hydroelectric project alleging the NHPC had resumed work without waiting for the project oversight committee's report.

KMSS president Akhil Gogoi said here today the NHPC had resumed construction work though the eight-member committee constituted by the Centre is yet to submit its report. The panel comprises four members each, nominated by the government and the agitating groups.

'We have information the NHPC is repairing the erosion that took place on both sides of the dam site and near the power house. They are also carrying cement and other materials to the site daily without waiting for the committee's report. If they cannot wait for the report, what is the use of forming such a committee?' Akhil asked.

Akhil said a 10-member team of the KMSS would visit the project site at Gerukamukh in Dhemaji district along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border on Tuesday. 'We had discussions with the four experts who visited the site on February 22 and 23. They confirmed that construction work is being carried out by the NHPC. We will not accept this and warn the NHPC to stop work immediately. We also warn the Centre to scrap the project immediately as the experts have repeatedly said the site selected for the dam was not appropriate as it was in a geologically sensitive area,' he said.

Rakesh, executive director, Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project, in response to the KMSS charges said, 'Work has not resumed on the dam but minor repairs on the access road have taken place to prevent any major damage during the monsoon.'

On the KMSS team's visit, Rakesh, who will complete three years on the project, said Akhil and his team was most welcome. 'In fact, we had written to all the agitating groups in October to come and see for themselves as to what is going on at the site. They are most welcome. We have nothing to hide,' he said.

Responding to Akhil's demand for scrapping the project, Rakesh said, 'That call has to be taken by the Centre. During the meeting in Delhi in December last year to break the deadlock, Union power minister Piyush Goyal categorically asked the groups invited for talks if they wanted the project scrapped. Nobody said anything.'

The project was sanctioned in 2003 with an allocation of over Rs 6,285 crore. The construction, however, was stopped in December 2011 following massive protests by different organisations like the KMSS, All Assam Students' Union and Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad expressing reservations about the possible adverse impact in downstream areas in Assam. The current completion cost has been estimated at Rs 15,894 crore.