Villagers in Assam’s Dima Hasao district are up in arms against a proposed 1200-MW hydroelectric project to be set up jointly by Adani Green Energy Ltd and Assam Power Generation Corporation Ltd (APGCL).People of Moti Lampu, Moti Hojai, and Riam Bathari villages under Hadingma con- stituency in Dima Hasao submitted a memorandum to the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Assam Pradesh, Dilip Saikia, expresing serious concern over the reported issuance of a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) by the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) for the pro- posed project.According to the memorandum, the villagers have learned that the Forest Department has already conducted a survey for the project. They apprehend that once commissioned, the hydropower project would leadto submergence of fertile agricultural and ‘jhum’ (slash-and-burn) cultivation land, which forms the mainstay of their livelihood.The letter also highlighted the ecological impact of the project, warning that abundant forest cover, rare wildlife, flora and fauna, streams, and the ecological balance will be lost forever, leaving the indigenous pop- ulation without means of sustenance.They appealed to the BJP leadership to intervene urgently and ensure that the project is withdrawn to protect the rights and future of the tribal people of the area.
