BJP calls for scrapping of public hearing for Talong-Londa hydroelectric project

ITANAGAR: The BJP has called for scrapping the proposed public hearing for the Talong-Londa hydroelectric project (HEP) in East Kameng district, scheduled to be held at Londa village on July 28 next.

Senior BJP leader from the district Vijay Sonam in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner asked him to immediately scrap the hearing, citing "random and haphazard signing of the MoA (memorandum of agreement) for the project."

Sonam said, while the MoA for the project was signed in January 2007 to produce 160 mw of electricity, it was later revised to produce 225 mw without seeking the consent of the people living in the affected area and downstream of the proposed project.

Claiming that the state government has entered into MoAs for 22 hydro-electric projects in the district alone, the party demanded that the number of MoAs signed for such projects in the district, along with details thereof, be made public.

It also mentioned that since Arunachal Pradesh falls under Seismic Zone V, creation of 22 artificial lakes in the district would lead to possible disaster.

Besides scrapping of the proposed public hearing, the party also demanded that the MoAs for all 22 HEPs in the district be scrapped within 10 days, failing which public interest litigation would be filed in the interest of the people of the district, the letter added.