Assam: Former MLA Samarjit Haflongbar seeks halt to 1,250 MW hydro project at Haflong

Guwahati: Former MLA and former CEM, NCHAC, Samarjit Haflongbar has supported a representation submitted to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), seeking immediate intervention and stoppage of the proposed 1,250 MW Pumped Storage Project (PSP) at Haflong in Assam’s Dima Hasao district.

In a statement here on Friday, Haflongbar said Dima Hasao is a Sixth Schedule tribal hill district and the constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule are intended to protect the land, natural resources, traditional institutions, identity, culture and interests of indigenous tribal people.

“Dima Hasao is a Sixth Schedule tribal hill district, and the constitutional safeguards provided under the Sixth Schedule are intended to protect the land, natural resources, traditional institutions, identity, culture and interests of the indigenous tribal people. Any major project involving large-scale use of land, forests, hills and water resources in such an area must therefore be considered with utmost sensitivity to these constitutional protections and the rights and interests of the local tribal population,” Haflongbar said.

He said a project of such magnitude could have far-reaching consequences for the environment, forests, water sources, traditional land-use systems, villages and livelihoods of indigenous people.

“A project of such magnitude may have far-reaching consequences for the environment, forests, water sources, traditional land-use systems, villages and livelihoods of the indigenous people. Development cannot be imposed at the cost of the constitutional safeguards and long-term interests of the tribal population,” he said.

Haflongbar said the Sixth Schedule was incorporated into the Constitution of India to provide a special system of administration for tribal areas of the Northeast and enable indigenous people, through their Autonomous District Councils, to protect their land, customs and resources.

“The Sixth Schedule was incorporated into the Constitution of India precisely to provide a special system of administration for tribal areas of the Northeast and to enable the indigenous people, through their Autonomous District Councils, to protect their land, customs and resources. Therefore, the spirit and objectives of the Sixth Schedule must prevail while considering any mega project proposed within Dima Hasao,” he said.

He also referred to a reminder letter dated 13 August 2026 issued by the NCST seeking facts and information from the Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao, and the Principal Secretary, North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), regarding the representation concerning the proposed project.

“I am particularly concerned that the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, through its reminder letter dated 13 August 2026, has sought facts and information from the Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao, and the Principal Secretary, North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), regarding the representation concerning the proposed project. The concerned authorities should respond to the Commission within the stipulated period and place all relevant facts transparently before it,” Haflongbar said.

He urged the Government of Assam, NCHAC and other concerned authorities to keep the proposed project in abeyance and not permit further action towards its implementation until its constitutional, environmental, land and tribal-rights implications are fully examined and the affected indigenous people are properly consulted.

“I therefore urge the Government of Assam, NCHAC and all concerned authorities to keep the proposed 1,250 MW Pumped Storage Project in abeyance and not permit further action towards its implementation until the constitutional, environmental, land and tribal-rights implications have been fully examined and the affected indigenous people have been properly consulted,” he said.

Haflongbar said development of Dima Hasao was necessary but should be people-oriented, environmentally sustainable and consistent with the constitutional safeguards guaranteed to tribal people under the Sixth Schedule.

“The development of Dima Hasao is necessary, but development must be people-oriented, environmentally sustainable and consistent with the constitutional safeguards guaranteed to the tribal people under the Sixth Schedule. Our hills, forests, rivers and ancestral lands are not merely economic resources; they are inseparably connected with the livelihood, culture, identity and future generations of our indigenous communities,” he said.

He extended his support to the demand for stoppage of the proposed project and appealed to the NCST to examine the matter carefully in the larger interest of the Scheduled Tribe communities of Dima Hasao.

“I therefore extend my full support to the demand for stoppage of the proposed 1,250 MW Pumped Storage Project at Haflong and appeal to the NCST to examine the matter carefully in the larger interest of the Scheduled Tribe communities of Dima Hasao,” he said.

“Let development take place, but not by sacrificing our constitutional rights, tribal land, environment and the future of Dima Hasao,” Haflongbar added.