Noted environmentalist Medha Patkar on Wednesday opposed construction of big dams in the North East to save the region from complete destruction. Addressing a huge rally in Guwahati, organised under the aegis of the Kisan Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), she said the rivers must be saved at any cost.
She said the government divided people on the lines of caste and religion but now they are taking the name of development.
According to Patkar, "People want development of rivers, power, aquatic life and people of living on river banks and not just of corporate houses and a section of politicians."
The construction of dams involved scams amounting to several thousands of crore and some corporate houses and politicians were allegedly involved in this, she claimed.
She appreciated KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi for organising the rally and giving a voice to the farmers who would be the worst affected if dams are constructed on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
Patkar, later, fell ill and was rushed to a hospital, while leading a protest march from the Sonaram Field to the Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner's office but her condition was stated to be stable.
Meanwhile, tense situation prevailed near the Deputy Commissioner's Office when more than five thousand protestors gathered to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner. The district authorities declared the gathering illegal and asked the crowd to disperse within ten minutes. Akhil Gogoi pointed out that they had applied for necessary permission for holding a dharna at the Dispur Last Gate but was denied following they had sought permission for holding a rally at Sonaram Field and a protest march which was subsequently granted.
PermalinkSubmitted by kkp on Fri, 23/07/2010 - 20:24
@Rongmon Pegu: may be there are less money involves in wind and solar energy than in river and dam to fill the butty of our politicians and corporate houses and dalals.
PermalinkSubmitted by Himadree Buragohian on Fri, 30/07/2010 - 16:37
It is really appreciating for renowned environmentalist Medha Patkar and KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi to come out and protest for the greater welfare of the general masses who are a neglected lot by the Govt as their cries carry no meaning for the politicians and the bureaucrats.Kudos to such leaders pleading for the poor citizens.
PermalinkSubmitted by Molokhu on Sun, 08/08/2010 - 16:11
IN THE NAME OF 'USER RIGHT'
I read the news story “Chinese move on Brahmaputra: Govt action plan on user right”, reported by noted journalist Kalyan Barooah from New Delhi (‘The Assam Tribune’, Page 1; Saturday, July 24, 2010). While being in the Indian Union any small entity, be it a state, a group of people have to be vigilant against powerful forces which influence policy makers and decision takers. Unlike the fringe territories, the central mainland has a huge homogenous population, where from springs a powerful lobby which exhorts power overtly in politics and covertly in economic matters. The scene hasn’t changed much down the centuries.
When Buddhism was gaining popularity in India, the Brahmans came up with an interesting idea to retain power in the socio-economic-political and religious spheres. Gautam Buddha was shown as the ninth avatar of the Hindu mythical god of protection, Vishnu. By inducting such a tricky clause in the Purans and related religious scriptures, the identity of Buddhism as an independent religion was destroyed. Slowly Buddhism lost its grip in ancient India. Persons who constitute different policy making structures like the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) are the neo-Brahmins of modern India.
At a time when anti-dam agitation is taking the form of a mass movement, the CoS has come up with a strategy of major storage project in the three basins (which includes Subansiri, Siang and Lohit) under the disguise of a concept aptly named ‘User Right’. Whether China wants to dam or divert the Brahmaputra is not known. Whether China will or can divert the Brahmaputra is not known. Whether the story of a dam to divert the river by China is a propaganda by a section of Indian media in connivance with the Central and Corporate lobby is not known. But that the Central Governement is hand in gloves with giant corporations to exploit the hydro-power of north-eastern states is an open secret now. These power groups with an eye on profits worth billions and trillions would never sit idle over a so called storage project. Any conscious and thinking person would know what the storehouse would hold for power generators and the massive devastation that a minimal gush of water from such projects can cause downstream.
In the name of major storage project alias ‘User Right’, now India and its corporate masterminds will generate power even more than the stipulated 70,000 MWs to feed its evergrowing greed. In the national forum, mega dams are projected as ‘multi-purpose hydro-projects’. In the international forum, major storage projects will be showcased in the name of ‘User Right’ of India. It’s the formula of “Old wine in New bottle”, to fool north-eastern states and the world.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio set up a new Nagaland People's Front (NPF) unit at Senapati district of Manipur, on Saturday, admist a general strike being imposed by the United Committee Manipur to protest against his visit. The CM, accompanied by his Council of Ministers, MLAs, NPF President, General Secretary and among others, was accosted a warm well come by officials of Manipur Government at Senapati Headquarters.
Social activist Anna Hazare was on Friday 20th May 2011, moved by the response which he got from people at an anti-corruption rally in Guwahati so much to proclaim he would move across the country to mobilise public support. Around 15,000 people from all walks of life and different parts of the state had congregated to listen to Hazare.
Anna Hazare today appealed to the youths of the country to radiate positive energy against corruption and take active part in anti-corruption crusade, which he terms as the “movement for real independence”.
He also advocated the need for a change in the election system demanding the ‘right to reject’ privilege for the voters...
Bokakhat press club recently publised a book "Kalyan Kharman" on educationist, journalist, poet Late Thaneswar Hazarika. The book was released by Bhabesh Saikia, president AAPKU, Debendra Nath Borah of Jorhat Zila Sanmbadik Santha, Deben Sharmah - Retired vice principal of Bokakhat JDSG College. A new poetry book by Late Thaneswar Hazarika will released by Bharatiya sahitya parishad soon.
There is a recent revival of interest in Schopenhauer studies in India with the impetus generated from the sincere and meticulous efforts made by IDSS in collaboration with Schopenhauer Research Center at the U of Mainz and the example is the publication of the first book on Schopenhauer and India from India in 2008. However, it is equally true that the Indian scholars have not yet put that much efforts as they perhaps should have to find a connection between Schopenhauer’s philosophy and Indian philosophy especially due to the fact that Schopenhauer had paid such great respect and homage to the Upanishads.
The lacking of serious efforts and interests in India to explore this area...
Electronic Media Forum Assam has strongly condemned the attack on two television journalists on duty today in the city by some constriction agents. It may be mentioned that Ranjita Rabha (NE Television) and Kumarjit Sharma (Frontier TV) with other colleagues went for coverage on a fraud issue engineered by Mudra Devcon Pvt Ltd in Rajgarh area of Guwahati.
It may be mentioned that Mudra Devcon agents collect money from the customers against the booking of housing flats. The company works on chain system of marketing. But there were some allegations of fraudulence against the company and the specific information was provided by Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad members to the media...
The UAE based Assamese diaspora celebrated Rongali Bihu in Dubai on of April 29. The festivities were marked by a grand and colourful function that recreated scenes reminiscent of the fanfare back home in Assam. It was an occasion to reconnect to one’s roots and a platform to showcase the best of Assamese cuisine, attire and culture.
As in the previous years, celebrities from the Assamese tinsel world added glamour to the proceedings. This year the guests of honour included noted actress Barasha Rani Bishaya, lyricist-composer Diganta Bharati and percussionist Partha Pratim Goswami. The versatile Barasha wowed the audience with a bouquet of folkdances representing many ethnic...
Congress(I) candidates in Golaghat district lead 2011 Assambly election: Ajanta Neog at Golaghat, Arun Phukan at Bokakhat, Bismita Gogoi at Khumtai, and Aroti kachari at Dergaon. Congress candidate Aklias Tirkey is leadining in Sarupathar LAC.
The Koliabar LAC is won by AGP candidate Keshab Mahanta.
Under the aegis of the Paresh Baishya Foundation, a charitable trust for enrichment of education and journalism, a talk on 'Child Rights and responsibilities of the society' would be held at Guwahati Press club on May 28 at 3 pm. The keynote address would be delivered by Dr. Suchitra Kakati, chairperson of the State Commission for protection of Child Rights while Monika Goswami Baruah, Principal of Maharshi Vidyamandir Senior Secondary School, Silpukhuri, would preside over the meeting. BesidesNazneen Hussain, senior sub-editor, The Eclectic and Dr. Kanika Dutta Baruah, joint Director, Panchayat and Rural Development, Assam would grace the function as special guest.Befitting the occasion,...
A newly married 22-year-old woman committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan of her house on Thursday at Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai in Imphal west. Loitongbam Darshana Devi, who was married to L Devendrajit last month, was found hanging inside her bedroom around 1pm before her husband broke into the room after he found it closed from inside, police here said. Devendrajit told mediapersons that he was playing carom at the courtyard when the incident happened. A case has been registered at Singjamei police.
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