Subansiri, a tributary of Brahmaputra
Lower Subansiri (LS) Hydel Project is planned on the river Subansiri, one of the main tributaries of the mighty Brahmaputra. The LS dam is the first project by NHPC (National Hydropower Corporation) in a three-stage cascade plan, Upper Subansiri and Middle
Subansiri being the other two.
The project is on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. The project proposes to use around 4,000 hectares (ha.) of forestland, out of which 3,436 ha. will be submerged, largely in Arunachal Pradesh, by the 116 m
dam.
- Subansiri and Dulung RFs have been listed by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) as Important Bird Areas (IBAs).
- There is also an elephant-corridor immediately downstream of the dam site.
- The Subansiri is one of the most crucial rivers in India for the long-term conservation of the golden mahseer.
Tipaimukh, Brahmaputra
NEEPCO,( North Eastern Electric Power Corp) is building a 6000 cr project Tipaimukh dam again on the Brahmaputra. Tipaimukh Dam Project at the Manipur-Mizoram border envisages construction of a 162-meter high dam.
India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers' waters. Tipaimukh is a power generating venture.
It is interesting to note here a similarity in the protest against the proposed Tipaimukh High Dam both in Bangladesh and in Manipur.
- The Bangladesh people are saying that diversion of water from the Brahmaputra river to the Ganges will definitely dry up the water in the downstream areas, thus seriously affecting agricultural lands in northern parts of the country during the lean season.
- In Manipur, the protest is about losing several hundred hectares of irreplacable agricultural lands located along the river basin of the Barak, Irang, Makru and Tuivai rivers as a result of submergence of the lands once the Dam is commissioned.
For a f report on other projects on Brahmaputra go to
http://wrmin.nic.in/cooperation/brahmaputra.htm