Editor,
After reading the multi-disciplinary expert group report for the Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project (SUHEP), I felt deeply concerned about it. I write this letter with a heavy heart, hoping to provoke thought among the public.
The SUHEP is a proposed 1,650 mw plant over the Subansiri river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra river. The expert group, after conducting a site visit, stated that Upper Subansiri district’s rugged terrain, frequent seismic activity, and heavy monsoon rainfall pose significant risks and challenges with regard to construction and transportation.
This reminded me of the environmental assessment report for the Sikkim dam, which indicated that the region’s fragile geology made it unsuitable for dam construction. However, the government persisted, citing economic development and community benefits as reasons for its success, only to have devastating consequences. In October 2023, a glacial lake outburst flood destroyed the 1,200 mw Teesta-III dam, killing over 100 people and affecting more than 80,000 people in four districts. The flood destroyed bridges, power plants, and transformers, severely silted up downstream hydroelectric power stations, forcing them to shut down, and displaced many people, forcing them to live in rented accommodations.
Now, the SUHEP also faces the challenge of environmental fragility. If construction continues, won’t the people of Subansiri be the next to suffer the consequences? Short-term economic gains cannot compensate for permanent damage. Those displaced and those who lose their lives in the floods leave behind only pain for their families.
Furthermore, the land compensation scam in the Lada to Sarli (Package 1-5) Frontier Highway project in East Kameng district serves as a warning. Land compensation for the affected people is a tempting project, but who can ensure that the government compensation will be fully distributed to those truly affected?
Upper Subansiri does not need to suffer another disaster in the name of development.
Aarna Gupta