Meghalaya Cong concerned

Shillong, Sep 10: The Congress party in Meghalaya on Tuesday expressed concern over the proposed Kulsi Dam Project along the border between Meghalaya and Assam, reports NNN.
Earlier, Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma informed the House that there was a joint inspection between the officials of Meghalaya and Assam and it was subsequently decided that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared.
The leader of opposition in the Meghalaya Assembly, Dr Mukul Sangma asked whether the areas that will be affected by the proposed dam under Kamrup (Assam) and West Khasi Hills (Meghalaya) falls under areas of difference between the two states. The Chief Minister said that whether areas of differences will fall under the proposed project will be known only after the preparation of the DPR.
Irked by the reply of the Chief Minister, Dr Sangma said that it should have been firstly verified if the place falls under areas of difference between Meghalaya and Assam and then the government should decide to give the nod or not to the project.
“The areas of difference are available with the state government and it should not have been a problem,” he said.
The leader of opposition said that the state government should give an assurance on the floor of the Assembly that projects taken up in areas of difference should be taken up taking the people of the state into confidence.
Earlier, the Chief Minister informed that the Kulsi Dam Project has been declared as a National Project – under hydro power and irrigation and therefore compensation and rehabilitation will be done as per the guidelines of the Government of India given under the law applicable to the same including conduct of public hearing.
“The steps that will have to be undertaken will require consideration of the outcome of the public hearing also,” Conrad said.
According to him, the Kulsi Dam Project is one of the 14 National Projects and stands at number 11.