The dam site. Telegraph picture

Tura, May 11: Ripples of the ongoing protest against construction of a dam on a tributary of the Simsang river has spread beyond East Garo Hills, with several organisations from another district joining the agitation.

Several student and social organisations from South Garo Hills have joined hands to “support” similar groups in East Garo Hills to protest against the Meghalaya government’s ongoing attempts to build a dam on the Daribokgre stream, which feeds the Simsang. The protest, which began in Williamnagar town, 76km from Tura, by NGOs under the banner of joint action committee (JAC), has now been joined by student and social groups from Baghmara town, district headquarters of South Garo Hills, 106km from Tura, following a meeting today. “A delegation of the committee from Williamnagar met NGOs in our district to discuss the issue. We have decided to support and join them in their protests because the Simsang is a crucial ecological factor for us also,” said Baghmara unit of Garo Students’ Union (GSU) president, Solith P. Marak.

Four organisations from Baghmara — GSU, Mothers’ Union, Baghmara Citizens’ Forum and A’chik Youth and Vigilance Committee — met leaders of the East Garo Hills groups and decided to join the protest, he added. The committee will again meet on Monday to discuss the future course of action after rejecting the government’s plea for “temporary” suspension of work at the dam site. “Whatever decision is taken in the meeting, we will support it,” said Marak. The government had informed through a letter from the chief secretary’s office that it was putting on hold all work pertaining to the project.

However, the protesters are seeking complete dismantling of the construction done so far and withdrawal of any project that diverts water from the tributaries of the Simsang, the longest river in Garo hills. It snakes its way from East Garo Hills into South Garo Hills, before entering Bangladesh, where it is called Someswari.