A vociferous protest against big dams reaches its crucial stage when union environment minister Jairam Ramesh was greeted with protest as he was arriving in Guwahti for a public hearing on the NHPC owned big dam in Arunachal Pradesh.
As the Union minister started the public hearing at Machkhowa, ITA, hundreds of local organizations and political parties approached him to register stiff protest again the on going construction of the big dam in Gerukamukh by NHPC in the name of the lower Subansiri hydel project. Citing the expert panel report, these parties and organisations have told the minister that the big dam might spell an ecological disaster for the people in down stream areas.
PermalinkSubmitted by Hayang on Wed, 29/09/2010 - 05:16
--Lame Excuse by NHPC CMD S.K. Garg--
Despite strident protests in Assam with environmental concerns over construction of mega dams, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Chairman-cum-Managing Director S.K. Garg says that the project builders plan to commission three units in March 2012 and the remaining five units by December 2012. This is because Rs 4000 crore of the Rs 9000 crore project has been utilized. That means 40% of the expenses have been made. But is this a reason enough to sacrifice environment and the population of downstream areas which cannot be compensated even if the Indian central government bring all the riches in the world. When land is lost, existence is lost. When existence is lost, the very right to our natural habitat is lost.
In the devastating floods caused by the Tehri dam in Uttarakhand, the central government has promised a package of Rs 500 crore to the state government. That means every year there will be floods, the Indian government will dole out Rs 500 crore. So, within 8 years, Rs 4000 crore will have to be shelved out. If this is the economics involved, Rs 4000 crore is nothing for a rich country like India where many politicians and ministers have pocketed hundreds and thousands of crores. So, the justification of Rs 4000 crore by S.K. Garg sounds to be a lame excuse to keep the industrial corporations who fund the elections happy and satisfied.
28 Jan 2010 - 7:46am | bishwajeetsinha
The Bhogali Bihu celebration has continued in Nagaon with series of theatre groups are ready to not only entertain the local crowd but make them part of their own experience through enacting on...
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As a part of its drive to provide facilities to the locals in the remote areas, The Assam Rifles carries out various civic action programmes from time to time. These efforts bring out the humane face...
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Kamalpur police today apprehended two ULFA militants namely Hemanta Kalita and Bakul Boro. Police has recovered some ULFA related documents from their possession. In another incident, Baihata...
The UAE based expatriate community from Assam celebrated Rongali Bihu in Dubai on 06/04/2012. A grand and colourful function was held to mark the occasion. The Indian Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Mr. M.K Lokesh, graced the function as the chief guest and profusely admired the rich cultural heritage of Assam. He was treated to a visually delightful Husori by some talented members of the community. Earlier in the evening a souvenir titled “Probaxi Bihuwan” was released by the Ambasador.
Traditional savories and an entertaining cultural program were the highlights of the evening. Singing stars Dikshu Sharma and Priyanka Bharali flew down all the way from Assam to regale the...
The Cultural Function of the Ladies Club of North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh was organised last evening - April 20 in the Institute Auditorium. It consisted of various songs, dances, recitation and concluded with a short skit which highlighted some of the important and burning social issues. The talent of the members of NERIST ladies club (NLC) were appreciated by one and all present there.
Ms. Binni Yanga, the noted social worker of Arunachal Pradesh and Padmashree Awardee-2012 and Chairperson of Oju Welfare Association (OWA) attended the function as Chief Guest. During her speech Ms. Yanga was emotional and remembered...
The ceremonial lamp was lit by Mrs Gayatri Borthakur and Srimati Chapala Bhuyan and rich tribute was paid to late Dr Bhupen Hazarika. This was followed by a variety of cultural items which kept the audience enthralled for hours. (Chorus by the ladies of Goregaon, Children Group Bihu Dance, a Dance based on Bhupendra Sangeet performed by Puja Baruah, Group Bihu Dance by the students of IIT Mumbai, Husari performed by a team from Navi Mumbai led by Ritu Sensoa, Songs performed by Avijit Das,Nilavro Bora,Sarodi Bora,Sarmistha Chakravarty...
Come on April 17, 2013. Assam tea is all set to get status of national drink. Addressing a Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Assam Tea Planters Association in Jorhat, Dr Ahluwaliah said that the drink would be accorded national drink status to coincide with the 212th birth anniversary of first Assamese tea planter and Sepoy Mutiny leader Maniram Dewan. He said that he would soon take up the matter with Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma. The meeting was presided by ATPA Chairman Atma Ram Kesera.
The Assam government on Friday urged the Centre to include seven districts in the Integrated Action Plan as soon as possible.
In a memorandum to prime minister on Friday, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that seven districts were Maoist infested that that if these are included in the integrated action plan the Maoist menace would have hardly any chance to surface. Gogoi said that there has been a growing Maoists activities in Upper Assam only because of its strategic location.
He requested Dr Singh to send more para military forces saying that 97 companies of central paramilitary forces were inadequate for tackling the menace.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh thanked Assam for allowing peace to be restored. Addressing the platinum jubilee celebration of the Assam Assembly on Friday in Dispur, Dr Singh said that only peace would ensure first track development in the state.
Dr Singh, who represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha said that the youths, of late, have realized the futility of violence and that the on going peace process with ULFA should be expedited to get the benefit at the earliest. Apart from Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, DoNER minister Pawan Singh Ghatowar, cabinet ministers and former MLAs and MPs, Assam governor JB Patnaik, his Meghalaya counter part and RS Mushahary, Bihar counterpart Devananda Konwar...
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Addressing the platinum jubilee celebration of the Assam Assembly on Friday in Dispur, the prime minister said that the government was looking forward to better trade relations with the neighbours such as Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, countries that share borders with the Northeast. He said that he would discuss with the leadership of Myanmar how the opportunities could be expansion of trade with India. According to him, Assam and other states of Northeast can and should play leading roles in looking eastwards.
During his 6 hour long visit to Guwahati on Friday, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan congratulated the Assam government for the economic growth it has achieved.
Addressing a gathering at Dispur parade ground he said in the last year of the 11th Plan, Assam was sure of a growth rate of 7.18 percent. He said that Bogibeel Bridge over the river Brahmaputra would be expedited and that the Gas cracker project would not be allowed to delayed further.
Amid simmering anti-big dam protest, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has asked the Assam government to ensure that the agitation do not turn into a law and order break problem.
Dr Singh’s suggestion came up when he convened the cabinet meeting at the Raj Bhawan on Friday evening just before leaving back to New Delhi.
The prime minister also took stock of a slew of burning issues when he met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his cabinet colleagues where the Assam government submitted a memorandum to Dr Singh on certain issues in which it seeks the PMO to intervene directly. Dispur is understood to have requested the prime minister to solve the vexed issue of D-voters and also...
Altogether five hardcore KPLT militants were killed and two others were arrested during a fierce gunbattle in Karbi Anglong district on Friday.
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