SHILLONG, JUN 10: Protesting against the proposed construction of a dam by Assam over Khri River of Meghalaya, the Indigenous Biodiversity & Social Welfare Organisation (IBSWO) will be holding a public rally at Madan Tirot in Mairang in West Khasi hills district on Thursday.
“The public rally will dwell on the impact that the dam would have on the livelihoods of people in Meghalaya, IBSWO president GD Lakiang said.
Lakiang said “This dam will affect the lives and livelihoods of people of around fifteen villages under Hima Nongkhlaw, Hima Rambrai in addition to loss of land, forests, biodiversity, contribute to erosion and climate change.”
The reported move by Assam to construct dam Khri River has raised concern not only among environmentalists, political parties, traditional bodies but also pressure groups in the Meghalaya which can be seen as a new flashpoint to the four-decade boundary dispute between the two neighbouring states.
According to Lakiang, the rally is an expression of solidarity by the people who will primarily be affected by the proposed dam.
The Assam government’s plans to construct a 2 mega watt micro hydel power project in the disputed area in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district which has raised concerns in Meghalaya.
Earlier last year, the then power minister AT Mondal put the onus on the home department to verify the fact whether the Assam plans to construct the micro hydel power project on Khri River inside Meghalaya’s territory.
However, the Meghalaya home department is yet to confirm whether the project will take off even as Assam has already surveyed the river for the project.- By Our Reporter
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