AJYCP Protests for Flood Mitigation and Dam Project Scrapping in Jorhat

AJYCP Demonstrates in Jorhat

Jorhat, June 17: In alignment with their statewide agitation, the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) organized a three-hour sit-in protest on Monday outside the Jorhat District Commissioner’s office. The protest aimed to demand the cancellation of large dam projects and to implement effective measures for addressing the persistent issues of floods and erosion in the state.

Demonstrators carried banners and shouted slogans, expressing their grievances against both the Central and State governments, which are currently led by the BJP. They highlighted that the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri hydroelectric project and other significant dam initiatives by NHPC pose a severe risk not only to nearby districts but also to many others, potentially leading to disastrous consequences.

Protesters cited a recent incident where the release of water from the 405 MW Ronganadi hydel project resulted in extensive flooding in Lakhimpur district, affecting numerous residents and their crops, underscoring the dangers associated with hydel projects.

One protester remarked, “Consider the devastation that could occur if a disaster were to hit the Lower Subansiri hydel project.”

Addressing the annual floods and significant erosion caused by the Brahmaputra River, which have led to widespread destruction and suffering for many, the protesters called for long-term solutions to these issues.

They argued that floods and erosion should be recognized as national problems, given their impact on a large segment of the population that has faced loss of life, property, livestock, and livelihoods over the decades, hindering the state's development.

Furthermore, they criticized the government for failing to adequately address these natural challenges, noting that despite the BJP-led administration's claims of prioritizing development in the northeastern region, no substantial actions have been taken to combat floods and erosion.