Stalled Assam project: Power ministry to meet stakeholders

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) The power ministry will soon convene a meeting of stakeholders in Assam's Subansiri hydropower project, an official statement said Saturday.

Minister of State for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbananda Sonowal met Power Minister Piyush Goyal Saturday and apprised him of the concern of the people of Assam relating to the Subansiri hydroelectric project, work on which has been stalled due to local opposition.

During their discussion, Goyal told Sonowal, who is also president of Bharatiya Janata Party's Assam unit, "that a meeting of various stakeholders will be called shortly to discuss their concerns along with experts in this field," an official statement said.

The power minister also said no construction will be undertaken till the matter is sorted out, it added.

The total cost of NHPC's Subansiri project has gone up by about Rs.1,200 crore owing to forced suspension of work since December 2011 following protests by a section of locals who are apprehensive about safety and the project's downstream impact.

The state-run generator has already spent about Rs.6,600 crore, according to a status report prepared by the company.

Once commissioned, Subansiri will be the country's biggest hydroelectric project. The estimated annual energy generation from the project is 7,421 million units.