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.
Hajo is throbbing with the activities for sports of birds which is unique in its kind. On Magh Sankranti, thousands of people from across the north eastern region rush to the Haigriv temple premises to see this traditional fight of Bulibuli birds. Usually, its preparation began from mid December each year. Those willing to participants in the fight trap the birds from the nearby forest and keep them with care. The local residents further train up the tamed birds for fighting with each other.
Also on the eve of the day, these tamed birds are made addicted with alcoholic substances. But after the fight is over, these are freed again, say Balin Das, a local residence.
There is no...
Noted Karbi folk artiste, researcher, drum exponent, folklorist, playwright and writer Jor Singh Bey has been selected for the Bokul Bon Award for 2008 instituted by Bokul Bon Trust in memory of Assamese literary icon late Ananda Chandra Boruah. According to Bokul Bon Trust President, Samiran Bordoloi, the 52-year-old artiste from Wirwar Denterang village in Karbi Anglong district, has been espousing the cause of Karbi folk arts since 1982. Be wrote a book on the art of playing Karbi drum in 1999. He has also published an anthology of Karbi folk songs and written modern songs, plays, short stories and other articles.
The State Directorate of Cultural Affairs has nominated noted recitationist Pranab Bora and noted violinist Minati Khaund for the Silpi Divas Award this time. The Directorate will celebrate the Silpi Divas Centrally at the Rabindra Bhawan here on January 18. On the occasion, it has also organised competition among the school and college students to test their excellence in singing Jyoti Sangeet and reciting the poems of the Rup Konwar. The competitions will start sharp at 10 that day, said a press release of the Directorate.
Festive mood grips Assam as people across the state are celebrating the much vaunted Bhugali Bihu with much fanfare and extravaganza. The bihu began with the kindling of the meji at the break of the night to worship the fire god. Several sports and cultural programs are also being organised to mark the occasion. Despite stioff resistance by a section NGOs buffalo fights are reported from some rural area. Hajo, known for its fight of nightingale is all abuzz. Monday evening was the time for feast. Community feasts were organised by the people of all sections which lasted till midnight. Assam governor Lt Gen Retd Ajoy Kumar Singh, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi have greeted the people on...
Sensation still prevails in Umrangso a day after Black Widow militants killing five people including a girl near the Kopili Hydroelectric project. Police and para-military jawans are patrolling in the area but have failed to spot the militants. The militants opened indiscriminate fire outside the power generation project. Two security guards were also among those killed by the militants.
Assam Association, Mumbai has cordiall invites all to the Magh Bihu celebration on 19th January 2008, to be held at: Assam Bhawan, Opposite Centre One, Near Vashi Railway Staion. Th eprogram will start from 6 pm and will continue till 10 pm. The programs include: Annual General Meeting of the association, cultural program by ONGC colony teams, violin by Manas. Zee TV fame Bonjyotsna and Debojit Saha will take part in the event. There will also be a gala feast on the occasion.For further inormation, please contact Deepen Rajkonwar, General Secretary, Assam Association Mumbai, at: 9892114116.
ULFA continues its strikes with granade on Monday. The banned insurgent outfit has exploded a powerful grenade in Morigaon leaving two people injured in the evening. According to information, the explosion took place at around 7-15 in the evening in front of the zilla parishad office leaving four people injured. Besides, a scooter has been damaged in the blast. Immediately after the incident, the police arrived in the spot and started investigation.
The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC), Bokakhat, earned Rs 30,03,155 in the year 2007, an increase of Rs 4,93,849 than the previous year. In the year 2006, the station got the third best station award of Asom. The station now earns almost an amount of Rs 11,000 per month from the commercial establishments including the canteen of the campus. The passengers of the station have also been greatly satisfied on the smooth conduct of the station. The station has only two buses from Bokakhat to Margherita. It requires a bus from Bokakhat to Guwahati. The station also needs two more drivers as it has been provided only four drivers including one who has taken a long leave since October last...
Assam’s law and order situation still remains volatile with militants killing two security guards at the Umrangsu based Kopili Hydroelectric Project on Monday morning. There are reports that these two guards have been gunned down while they were on duty. Police investigation is going on. Details are awaited.
Today is Uruka. Brisk preparations are afoot in the city to celebrate the Bhugali bihu with traditional fanfare and gaiety. The common people are left worried in the face of skyrocketing price hike while some others are cashing on in the unprecedented price hike.Assam is throbbing with activities to prepare for the uruka’s harvest festival. The scent of traditional Assamese laru, pitha and other recipes are all that say that Bihu is here.For Jyotsan Bora, Dheki is an inseparable from the Assamese. But it is going to extinct even in rural life. She said, but we are trying to continue this tradition”.But for a section of residents in the city, the Bihu shopping has some bitter...
Comments
Pages
Add new comment