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.
Much to everybody’s utter surprise, several crucial files have been reduced to ashes when a fire broke out in the third floor of the high security Assam Secretariat in the Dispur area in Guwahati on Wednesday.
The fire broke out at night despite heavy presence of security force. The fire broke out in the Water Rescources Department on the third floor of Block B of the secretariat and several files have been destroyed in the blaze.
The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained and forensic department personnel are investigating the case.
Guwahati still remains a safe route for insurgent activists who are waiting to monger trouble in the city. Four hardcore Manipur insurgents were arrested during a joint operation by the security forces on Thursday. They include the KCP finance secretary who has been camping in Lachitnagar area in the city. The three others also belong to KCP.
The India International Centre and the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research bring together singers and musicians from the North East in a musical evening to pay tribute to the legendary Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, perform some of his repertoire as well as their own compositions. The performances are on February 18 at the IIC main auditorium.
The performers include Mayukh Hazarika, nephew of the great singer, his wife, Laili Dutta-Hazarika, with a team of musicians from Guwahati, and Rabindra Kalita, Executive Director Marketing, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd., who is a well-known amateur singer in Assamese.
From Nagaland come the remarkable Nagaland Singing Ambassadors under Lipokmar...
Pailan World School (PWS) has organised an educational programme at a city hotel on February 12 which was attended by its Bhaichung Bhutia, its brand ambassador. He spoke about the school and its initiatives related to football. The programme was attended by Debasish Dutta, director ,Moonmoon Saha,vice chairperson, Ahanjit Chandra Routh, Principal, Ankana Maitra, academic head of PWS. Mr Sukumar of pearson group and many other noted dignitaries of Guwahati city participated in the programme.
Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, Guwahati, in association with Career Counseling Cell, Kakojan College, Jorhat will conduct a six (06) week workshop on Technological Based Entrepreunership Development Programe on Computer Hardware and Networking at Kakojan College from February 21 to March 31, 2012. This programe is sponsored by Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Archana BhattacharjeeCo-ordinator, Career Counseling CellKakojan College, Jorhat
A woman committed suicide by coming under a speeding train in Halmira area of Golaghat today morning. The woman, identified as Forida Begum (55), a resident of Halmira, was ran over by a train near No.3 railway gate. Local people suspected that it happened at 5am when it’s slightly dark and in an area that people don’t normally cross. It is to be mention that Forida Begum has lost her husband 20 days ago and her sister also left her 2 days back and such cruel tragedy made her take such an extreme step.
An All Breed Dog Show was organised at the College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara on February 11. The show was organized in the College Play Ground on the side lights of the North-East Agri-Fair, 2012 hosted by the Assam Agricultural University. The show was inaugurated by Major General G.S. Chima , GOC, 51 sub-area, Narangi as the Chief Guest. Dr. K. M. Bujarbaruah, Vice Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University also graced the function. Subrata Hazarika, Honorary Secretary of the Guwahati Kennel Club attended the function as the Guest of Honour. The dignitaries highlighted the importance of the dogs in the human society and congratulated the organizers...
One person died and around 40 others have been injured when a bus slipped into a deep gorge in Karbi Anglong district on Saturday.
The mishap took place in the evening at the Tika hills near Baithalangsu where one person died on the spot and the injured passengers have been rushed to the hospital. It was alleged that the Baithalangsu hospital has no staff to look after the injured passengers.
Equestrian Federation of Assam has admitted that Assam has lots of scope for developing equestrian as a sport and its youths could be groomed for participating in international events.
Talking to reporters on Saturday, Equestrian Federation of Assam president Manoj Jalan said that the organization has started the sport in s Jorhat district in view of the scope with the various indigenous tribes.
He said that Jorhat has scope with its ethnic youths, particularly of the Mising community, along the banks of river Brahmaputra and in Majuli island traditionally riding horses without saddle.
Dispur has prepared a draft proposal to revise minimum wages for workers and employees engaged under NREGA under the relevant provisions of Minimum Wages Act, 1948.
According to official sources, the minimum rates of wages fixed for different categories are Rs 208 per day for skilled work/clerical work and Rs 150 per day for semi-skilled/unskilled supervisory work. A minumum rate of Rs 130 per day was proposed for unskilled workers who are engaged in agriculture, construction or maintenace of roads or in building operation, stone breaking or crushing, flood control, irrigation and public health engineering.
Comments
Pages
Add new comment