In the hilly district of Karbi Anglong, Assam, anxiety looms large among the indigenous communities as the state government plans to acquire 18,000 bighas of land for a 1,000-megawatt solar power project. This proposed project threatens to displace nearly 20,000 Karbi, Naga, and tribal residents from 23 villages in the Khatkhati-Longkathar area. For over two centuries, these indigenous communities have lived on this land, cultivating crops and sustaining their livelihoods through agriculture.
Assam’s Rajya Sabha MP, Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, raised the issue in the Upper House, highlighting that the government is proceeding with the land acquisition without consulting the local communities, violating the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. He also pointed out that no environmental impact assessment or approval from the National Wildlife Board has been conducted for the project. Additionally, the feasibility of a solar power project in Assam’s predominantly cloudy and rainy climate remains questionable.
Local residents fear that the land acquisition will strip them of their only means of survival. For generations, they have relied on this land for farming and raising their families. They are now demanding that the government halt the project to protect their lives and livelihoods.
Land rights activists and local organizations have strongly opposed the government’s decision, arguing that development should not come at the cost of indigenous rights. MP Bhuyan has urged the Rajya Sabha to intervene and stop the project, emphasizing the need to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the affected communities.
Indigenous groups and human rights organizations continue to pressure the government to abandon the land acquisition process. They assert that any development initiative must prioritize the protection and consent of local communities, warning of severe consequences if their voices are ignored.
17 Jul 2011 - 3:27am | Ritupallab Saikia
The Assam College Teachers Associations’ DR College unit in collaboration with Vox Populi and NEADS, NGOs, organised a state level workshop on River Dams at DR College auditorium yesterday...
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Preparations are complete to kick off the Thansen Wangchadong Memorial Football Tournament at Nehru stadium in Khonsa on Saturday. Top officials including SP, DC circle officer took stock of the...
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Vishwa Dharma Chetna Manch and Sri Brahmarishi Ashram Ramapuram Tirupathy is jointly organizing a free yoga and naturopathy health camp at Maheswari Bhawan in Golaghat Sunday. The day long camp will...
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Kokrajhar RNB Civil Hospital is now in dire state and turning to be a death trap for poor patients. Poor administration of the premier hospital has ruined the efforts of BTC which has been...
New Delhi, January 25: An urgent appeal addressed to President Droupadi Murmu by conservationists and environmentalists from the northeastern states has brought attention to the controversial transfer of elephants from Arunachal Pradesh to Jamnagar, Gujarat. The memorandum expresses deep concern over the ethical and ecological ramifications of relocating these majestic creatures, calling for immediate intervention to halt such practices.
The appeal highlights the recent transfer of 20 elephants over a 3,000-kilometer journey, raising critical questions about the necessity of such "rescue and rehabilitation" efforts. Conservationist and environmental journalist Mubina Akhtar, a...
Guwahati: The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) opposes the military junta’s recently revived cyber-security law with a warning that it would pose a serious threat to fundamental rights and contradicts the principles enlisted in the Constitution of Myanmar. The draconian legislation is a calculated attempt by the junta to suppress dissents, stifle free expressions and violate the privacy of Myanmarese nationals, added the APHR, a regional network of current and former Parliamentarians belonging to southeast Asian nations.
Expected to come into force next week, the law grants the military sweeping and unchecked powers under the pretext of national security. These powers...
Researchers at Southern Federal University (SFedU), in collaboration with scientists from India and Egypt, have unveiled a groundbreaking roofing coating designed to protect against moisture damage, rain, and solar radiation effects. The coating offers exceptional thermal insulation, potentially reducing energy consumption for maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures.
Urban areas often face elevated temperatures compared to rural regions due to the absorption of near-infrared solar radiation. According to SFedU's International Research Institute for Smart Materials, multiple buildings exacerbate this issue by creating a "trap" for sunlight, with shiny metal roofs being particularly...
In an era where financial security means more than just protecting your family after you're gone, term insurance in India is undergoing a remarkable transformation. The introduction of living benefits has revolutionized how we think about term insurance, making it a more versatile and valuable financial tool for millions of Indians.
The Evolution of Term Insurance in India
Term insurance has traditionally been viewed as a pure life cover product, providing financial protection to families in the event of the policyholder's death. However, the Indian insurance landscape has matured significantly, with insurance penetration growing steadily as awareness increases among urban and rural...
Silchar, January 10, 2025 – The much-awaited Asomi Bhogali (Poush) Mela 2025, a vibrant celebration of Assamese and Barak Valley culture, was inaugurated today at the Community Managed Training Centre (CMTC) near Itkhola Bazar, Silchar. Organized by the District Mission Management Unit, Cachar, in collaboration with the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM) and the Panchayat & Rural Development Department, Government of Assam, the three-day event will run from January 10 to 12.
The inaugural ceremony witnessed the presence of distinguished guests, including Hon’ble MP Silchar, Shri Parimal Suklabaidya; Hon’ble MLA Silchar, Shri Dipayan Chakraborty; District Commissioner...
Guwahati: Expressing anxiety over the recent earthquake that hit the Tibetan plateau killing over 125 residents and injuring several others, a forum of graduate engineers in northeast India apprehended probable damages in the Brahmaputra valley if the China-made massive hydropower project on Yarlung Zangbo collapses some day because of a high intensity tremor. All Assam Engineer’s Association (AAEA), in a media statement, also urges the Union government in New Delhi to strongly deal with the Beijing administration for safeguarding the entire Brahmaputra river basin comprising eastern India localities along with the north Bangladesh.
International news agencies reported ...
In a critical rescue operation, the Indian Army, along with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have mobilized to save laborers trapped in a flooded coal mine in Umrangsu, Karbi Anglong district of Assam. The incident, which occurred due to a devastating flood on Sunday, has left a group of laborers stranded underground with no communication established yet.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that a specialized team of Navy deep divers has been called upon to aid in the rescue mission. The divers, who are en route from Vishakhapatnam, are expected to reach the site soon to tackle the challenging conditions...
Expressing dismay over the fate of an important road, named after Assam’s pioneer litterateur Sahityasamrat Lakshminath Bezbarua, the Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA) urges the concerned authorities to reopen the road connecting Guwahati Railway station with Nehru Park/Gauhati Town Club point on MG road. The forum of nationalist citizens argues that LNB road should be reorganised for daily use by the commuters as well as heavy vehicles approaching the Reserve Bank of India office, Army Transit Camp and the busiest railway station of the region.
It may be mentioned that the GTC point on the north (adjacent to Judges Field and Nehru Park in Panbazar locality),...
The new year began on a tragic note for India's media fraternity, as journalist Mukesh Chandrakar (30) was found murdered in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, on Friday. His body was discovered in a newly constructed septic tank owned by an influential contractor in Chattanpara. Mukesh, known for his fearless reporting on corruption and insurgency in central India, had been missing since January 1, 2025. His family had lodged a missing person's report shortly after his disappearance.
Mukesh, a seasoned journalist and the creator of the popular YouTube channel Bastar Junction, garnered millions of views for his investigative reports. Local journalists and press organizations have called his death a...
A milestone event celebrating the literary contributions of Bodo women writers was held on Monday at the Nativers Institute of Bodology (NIB) in Kokrajhar. The programme, organized by the Bodo Women Writers' Association, witnessed the unveiling of 15 books authored by women writers from the Bodoland region.
Prominent personalities, including Dr. Surath Narzary, president of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha, and Dr. Adaram Basumatary, principal of Kokrajhar Girls' College, graced the occasion as guests of honor.
The collection of books showcased diverse genres, including nine poetry anthologies, two short story compilations, and four critical essays. Notable authors like Anju Basumatary, Virgin...
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