Dibrugarh, June 30: As part of its Golden Jubilee celebrations, the Dibrugarh Press Club today organised a lecture under its “Aamar Alohi” series at Jagriti Hall on the topic “Mega Dam on Yarlung Tsangpo and Its Possible Impact: From Dibrugarh to Guwahati and Bangladesh.”
Delivering the lecture, eminent geologist and retired Dibrugarh University professor Dr. Jogendranath Sharma warned that China’s proposed Medog Hydropower Project could trigger severe natural disasters across downstream Assam. Approved in December 2024, the 60,000-MW project—60 times larger than India’s largest dams—is being constructed in the seismically active and ecologically fragile Medog County.
Dr. Sharma highlighted threats such as erosion from “hungry water,” disruption of groundwater systems, shifts in monsoon patterns, and risks to biodiversity and the livelihoods of over 2 million fishermen. He called for a joint Indo-China Environmental Impact Assessment, stressing that a dam collapse during an earthquake could lead to devastation similar to the 1950 Assam disaster.
He also noted that while the Yarlung Tsangpo contributes only about 5% of the Brahmaputra’s flow in Bangladesh, the potential risks from the dam remain significant. India’s proposed 11,000-MW Siang project was also mentioned as a countermeasure, though it too faces serious environmental concerns.
A delegation from the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) in Arunachal Pradesh actively participated in the programme. The delegates presented their opposition and concerns regarding the Siang Upper Multi-Purpose Project, which is to be implemented by NHPC on the Siang River.
The event was anchored by Dibrugarh Press Club General Secretary Ripunjoy Das and attended by a host of distinguished guests, including All India Radio & Doordarshan Programme Head Lohit Deka; senior journalists Iqbal Ahmed, Ron Dowerah, Lakhikanta Majindar Baruah, Lalit Sharma, Anil Poddar, Prabir Chakraborty, Ajoy Dutta, Sourav Dowerah; and several journalists from Dibrugarh and Tinsukia. Gandhapati Chungkrang, Director of the NE Fire Services Academy, was also present.
Dr. Jogendranath Sharma was honoured by the Dibrugarh Press Club with a phulam gamocha, a memento, and a citation in recognition of his valuable contributions. The Press Club also expressed its gratitude to NEFSA for sponsoring the programme.
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