Guwahati: A central draft allegedly framed to legalize the industries and factories in the economy sensitive areas is set to run into a hail of protest in Assam and other north eastern states.
Drafted as Environment Impact Assessment 2020, by the ministry of forest and environment, the draft has watered down the existing rules to set up big, medium and small scale industries on the basis of an assessment.
All Assam Students Union and KMSS along with many other organizations have vociferously opposed the move.
"Only Assam and other north eastern states will have to bear the brunt. But we won't allow anybody to loot our resources," said AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi.
The move assumes significance amid much hurdles and cry over the move to explore oil in the ecosensitive areas like DihingPatkai and Dibru Saikhowa national park.
A non governmental organization based in New Delhi has written to Union forest and environment minister Prakash Javadekar to cancel the draft and to stop the stage managed public hearings. Here is the letter:
Subject: Request to Withdraw Draft EIA 2020 in the interest of Environmental and Public Welfare
Dear Shri. Prakash Javadekar,
In March 2020, during the COVID pandemic and under your leadership, the MOEFCC had released the Draft EIA 2020 Notification, and I am writing to you today to unequivocally request that this draft be withdrawn on account of how destructive it can prove to be for the ecology and the people of our great nation.
Though the notification states that it seeks to make the EIA process ‘more transparent and expedient’. But several renowned organizations, experts and the public have raised serious questions and concerns about the consequences, if such an amendment came into force.
There is a lot of sound scientific research emerging, linking the present pandemic to the vast destruction of natural habitats – which among numerous other ecosystem services, also greatly buffer zoonotic diseases like COVID – 19. This is in the larger context of a global climate breakdown – repercussions of which our country is already witnessing many, including the devastating Supercyclone Amphan in the East and the cyclone Nisarga in the West. In this light, the Draft EIA 2020 caters purely to the ‘ease of doing business’ in India and does not address these larger looming issues. This also comes at a time when the Government is opening up all its sectors to private companies – entities neither elected by or directly accountable to the people. This takes power away from the people which goes against our democratic ideals.
The proposed notification considerably relaxes various guidelines, restrictions and safeguards which legally exist for our wilderness and local people. This is in contravention to the scope and spirit of Section 3 of the Environmental Protections Act (1986) itself. It seems to make circumstances strongly favourable to industrial and corporate interests. Pertinent examples of this are the allowance of post-facto clearances and the non-requirement of EIA for B2 projects, which include potentially harmful ones like river valley projects, tanneries, many chemical manufacturing units, petrochemical industries, expansion of national highways, etc. How can we expect the perpetrators of ecological crimes to keep themselves accountable? We cannot! It is understandable that the government is taking measures to counter the recent economic slowdown, but these measures need to be also cognizant of long term and far-reaching ecological and social impacts. This is not to mention that destruction of the environment is proven to be worse for the economy in the longer term.
While there has been some streamlining with respect to the categorisation of projects, the public consultation step has been severely undermined. This dilutes an important democratic process ensuring the welfare of stakeholders in the project areas. It is not reasonable to expect that the public can get informed opinions on such short timelines.
There are a number of other such exemptions given for industries and relaxations of restrictions, which presently exist as safeguards against destructive development. There is, as such, nothing in the notification which is for the protection and conservation of the environment itself and/or for public welfare. Clearing this draft would be an untold disaster for the long-term welfare of our nation and the world.
It is laudable that the Ministry has extended the notice period for public review of this notification upto August 11th, considering numerous public representations and the lockdown situation. I further request you to kindly consider the above-mentioned arguments and withdraw this notification, keeping in mind the long-term welfare of our country’s natural wealth, local communities, and future generations.
13 May 2008 - 1:26am | editor
The North Eastern Council has begun its two-day plenary session in Agartala on Monday. Inaugurated by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) Mani Shankar Aiyar the meeting is...
9 Jul 2016 - 3:31pm | AT News
The anger against the BJP-led Government in Assam refuses to die down. KMSS on Saturday took on the Sonowal Government alleging unwanted hike in VAT against 127 items. Addressing a press conference...
22 Jul 2013 - 9:35am | Irfan Khondker
Irrespective of what media house they represent, more than 10 senior journalists from all over the region came together under one roof for a noble cause on Sunday to discuss the need of an...
26 Aug 2008 - 7:36pm | editor
The main Opposition Asom Gana Parishad is holding a crucial meeting in the city of Guwahati on Tuesday to clear the road for unification of the regional forces. According to information the executive...
Unidentified miscreants kidnapped an engineer of Power Grid Corporation from Baksa district on Saturday even as security forces are on rescue operation. The engineer, Santhala Taidy Raju, was abducted by a group of four armed men from the Power Grid Corporation's camp at Dhekipota under Goreshwar police station near the Indo-Bhutan border.Raju, who hails from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, was staying in the remote camp with some other company workers. He was forced at gunpoint to go along with the gunmen, who had come in two motorcycles and reportedly taken towards the Bhutan border.
In yet another blow for anti-talk ULFA, four hardcore militants, including a senior leader before police in Tinsukia district.Among the militants who laid down their arms is senior ULFA leader Rahendra Moran alias Guli Asom, who was responsible for the outfit's extortion related activities in the upper Assam districts. He was involved in a number of incidents of extortion from various businessmen and political leaders.The others who surrendered are Parikshit Moran, Champak Hazarika and Kushal Buragohain. The ultras handed over one AK-47 assault rifle, two 9 mm pistols, eight bottle grenades, four Chinese made hand grenades and other assorted weapons.
The state government has set up 20 relief camps in Goalpara district for people affected in the violence. As many as 17,949 people have taken shelter in those camps. The ethnic RHJAC is demanding the Autonomous Council polls ahead of the panchayat hustings as the village and panchayat committees will undermine the authority of the Council.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday claimed to have restored normalcy in trouble-torn Goalpara district is now peaceful and the displaced people will be rehabilitated soon.Gogoi said that the situation in Rabha-Hasong area is now peaceful. The situation in the district, which is the nerve centre of the Rabha Hasong Joint Action Committee (RHJAC) opposed to the panchayat polls, had turned violent on February 12 panchayat election day with 20 people killed in police firing, arson and clashes.
Violinist Sunita Bhuyan , the cultural Ambassador to the South Asia Women’s Fund, Sri Lanka performs at Bandstand amphitheatre, Mumbai during the celebration of One Billion Rising - Mumbai on February 14, 2013.
The National Human Rights Commission issued notice to Dispur seeking a report on the deaths in violence over panchayat polls in the state.In a statement, NHRC said that notice has been sent to home secretary, government of Assam, and DGP, who have been asked to submit a report on the matter within four weeksThe NHRC issued notice on a complaint after a media report appeared, alleging that 11 persons died in violent clashes over panchayat.According to NHRC, out of the eleven, reportedly nine died in police firing and two in group clashes between the people who were opposed to the elections and those who supported it at different places.The commission observed that the contents of the media...
Poll related violence refuses to die down. Two more people were killed in police firing in Dhubri district on Friday. The incident took place during poll counting in Hathsinghmari area of the South Salamara sub division when a group of men allegedly tried to storm into a counting centre and destroy ballot boxes for the elections.Five other people were also injured in the firing by Assam Police and paramilitary forces.It comes three days after 20 people were killed in police firing in Goalpara district where protests by the Rabha Hajong tribe during Tuesday's village council elections triggered violence.The police said it has had to open fire because members of the Rabha Hajong tribe were...
There seems to be some let up in the overall situation in Goalpara. Indefinite curfew in Krishnai and Mornoi areas of the district was relaxed on Friday with no fresh incidents reported from the district where counting of panchayat election votes took place.Curfew was relaxed from 6 AM to 8 PM even as the Army deployed since the panchayat poll day on February 12 was carrying out flag marches in the sensitive areas of the district.The situation in the district turned violent on poll day with 20 people killed in police firing, arson and clashes.The RHJAC has been demanding holding of the RHAC polls ahead of the panchayat hustings as the village and panchayat committees would undermine the...
Schools, colleges and other establishments across the state wore a fresh look because of Saraswati puja on Friday. From early in the morning, a large number of people offered pujas dedicated to the goddess of learning. Saraswai Puja, which is paying homage to the goddess of education, is among the most-awaited festivals for teens. The deity of art, wisdom and culture is worshipped on this day by students across the state and beyond. From schools to households, people were busy appeasing the Goddess of knowledge, who is considered by the Hindus as the daughter of Goddess Durga.Goddess Saraswati is worshipped in various parts of the country various ways and in different times. 'Basant...
Counting of votes of the three-phase panchayat elections in Goalpara district was postponed for Friday with the entire exercise now to be completed within one day.The indefinite curfew continued in Krishnai and Mornoi areas. The movement of people by river and other water-bodies in the district between 3 pm to 7 am was banned by the district administration till further orders to prevent movement of miscreants.
Add new comment