Talks to end deadlock today in Dispur

The Assam government will sit in talks with KMSS, TMPK, AJYCP and AASU in Dispur on Thursday to fine out an amicable solution to the mega dam deadlock that has resulted in a paralyzing deadlock in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts.

The group of ministers set up to deal with the burning issue led by power minister Pradyut Bordoloi will start dialogue with TMPK at 10 in the morning. The talks with AASU will take place at 11 and it will be followed by KMSS at 12 noon. AJCYP will talk to the GoM at 1 in the afternoon. The protesters have already sent the leaders to Dispur on Wednesday with the hope of a meaningful dialogue.

Apart from it, the GoM will talk to a number of citizens’ bodies and experts on January 14 to find out an amicable solution to the problems. The government t finally relented and has agreed to invite the groups and organisations, which are opposed to the construction of NHPC Ltd’s 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydro Electric Project, for talks.

For almost a month, the anti-dam organisations had been imposing a road-blockade in Lakhimpur district for vehicles carrying construction material and equipments for the Subansiri project. The organisations demand scrapping of the project for the perceived threat to downstream areas and surrounding ecology. The mood among common people, particularly in Upper and eastern Assam districts, too is against the construction of mega-dams in upper reaches of Brahmaputra.