Assam CM assures security to NHPC

Work on the project has come to a halt since December following vehement protests by anti-dam agitators and NHPC Executive Director Rakesh has urged Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments to provide security.

"Our job is to provide security which we will do. If there is any defect in the dam construction which could lead to disaster that can be looked after," Gogoi told reporters here.

"We will form an expert committee comprising specialists from abroad, including US, Portugal and France to study the impact of construction of big dams," he said.

On the protest by various local organisation including the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), the chief minister said "protests are a part of democracy".

Work at the 2000 MW project being set up at Gerukamukh bordering Assam and Arunachal Pradesh has been halted by anti-dam protests launched by KMSS and other organisations which contend that it would cause large-scale downstream damage in Assam.

Rakesh had yesterday said the company is losing an estimated Rs four to Rs five crore daily since December due to protests and this has escalated the project cost to Rs 10,799.63 crore from the earlier estimates of Rs 6,285.33 crore.

Contractor labourers have left the site as there is no work and NHPC is spending considerable money on corporate social responsibility as per norms, he said.

The two-member Thatte committee, set up by the Planning Commission, is probing the downstream impact of the project and is expected to submit its report by the month end.