Itanagar, Dec 22 : Food and fuel crisis looms large over three Arunachal districts following a road blockade launched by anti-dam activists in Assam's Lakhimpur district in protest against the Lower Subansiri hydroelectric project.
The ongoing blockade by All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) and Krishak Mukti Sangram Somiti (KMSS) in Lakhimpur since the last few days has badly hit the three districts of East, West and Upper Siang resulting in a halt in supply of fuel and essential commodities, an official said on Wednesday.
The organizations have launched an agitation against construction of mega dams in the Subansiri River at Gerukamukh which they fear would jeopardize the existence of people living in the downstream areas of the river.
They have accused the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) of failing to act on the recommendations of an expert panel that pointed out perils of the ongoing 2000-MW Lower Subansiri Project. The organizations staging protests have blocked movement of vehicles carrying construction materials and fuel to the project site at Gerukamukh thereby sending a strong message to the authorities concerned to stop dam construction.
The protesters have blocked movement of all material-laden trucks and fuel tankers to Lakhimpur, which has resulted in acute fuel and food crisis in the Siang belt. East Siang deputy commissioner Talem Tapok on Wednesday requested his Lakhimpur counterpart for releasing the detained vehicles, including oil tankers, which are on the way to Arunachal.
"Lakhimpur DC has assured us to allow the vehicles in after a negotiation with the protesters," the DC said. The Siang districts have been hit by shortage of fuel for the second time this year. In August, due to flashfloods in Dhemaji (Assam), surface transport on National Highway-52 was disrupted for which three Siang districts had to face acute shortage of essential commodities and petroleum products for a fortnight.
The NH-52, which passes through Lakhimpur and Dhemaji district, is considered the lifeline of people for the three districts.
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