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.
Defying the militant diktat Assam celebrates the 63rd Republic Day on Thursday with lots of promises. Governor JB Patnaik unfurled the national tricolor and inspected the guard of honour of the armed forces and NCC at the Kahnapara veterinary playground.
In his address, Patnaik said that his government is committed to uplift the poor people and that the government would leave no stone unturned to permanently restore peace and normalcy in the state. He said the militant outfits, mostly, have come back to the national mainstream which would go a long way to help the state get peace restored.
Patnaik said that his government would not harass even a single genuine citizen in the name of...
The Centre on Wednesday announced Param Vishisht Seva Medal for Air Marshal Anjan Kumar Gogoi.
He would be conferred the award for his distinguished service to the nation. Bestowed the highest peace time award for rendering service of the most exceptional order, the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of South Western Air Command was born at Dibrugarh to former chief minister Keshab Gogoi. Gogoi was the first batch of students in Sainik School Goalpara in the state in 1964. The National Defence Academy graduate was commissioned in the Fighter Stream of the Indian Air Force on June 2, 1973, and has since logged over 3000 hours of fying on various aircraft.
He is a Qualified Flying...
Much to a major disappointment for Assam and its people, the Centre has announced Padma Bibhushan for legendary maestro Dr Bhupen Hazarika along with four other eminent scholars a day before the Republic Day.
Dr Hazarika would posthumously receive the second highest civilian award for his exceptional and distinguished service in vocal music. For the last couple of years the state has been urging the Centre to confer the Bharat Ratna for the legendary maestro. The cry of Bharat Ratna gathered momentum when the maestro passed away on November 5 in Mumbai.
The Assam Legislative Assembly in its winter session also unanimously passed a resolution for the country’s highest civilian...
Security has been tightened to ensure smooth conduct of the 63rd Republic Day celebrations on Thursday.
Assam Chief Secretary N K Das reviewed security scenario when he was chairing a meeting in Dispur on Wednesday.
Special security cover has been laid on major and important sectors like installations of OIL, ONGC and IOC, railways, airport, bus depots and other public places, sources said.
Apart from showcasing the diverse cultural extravaganza and displaying of tableaus, scouts and guides of the state will be felicitated for rendering service in managing the large inflow of mourners following the death of the legendary Dr Bhupen Hazarika.
During the British rule the Jorhat central jail was established in 1911. Preparation is going on to celebrate the completion of 100 years of this historic jail. The opening programme will be start from August 9 and concluded on December.
In a conversation with the media, on January 24, Akon Bora, minister of Jails disclosed that, in association with this celebration its cells and the scaffold of the jail will be preserved and develop as museum for tourist attraction. The cell in which Pitambor Deva Goswami confined will be rebuilt and specially preserved. He also said that the process is going on transfer the jail to a new place.
A five-days Farmers’ Training Programme on Bio-diesel and its economic benefits was organized by the Department of Mechanical Engineering of North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh concluded on Tuesday.
Prof. Dipankar Pal, Director of NERIST has attended in the valedictory function on the concluding day and emphasis that there is no need of much discussion on Bio-diesel, as the Bio-diesel from Jatropha is well established from research to market. It is the high time to us to switch over our dependency on fossil fuel to bio-fuel and strengthen the country economy. He further asserted that NERIST has been established to...
After the boycott call from the rebel groups of North-East India, the Assam government has increased keeps strong vigil on the law and order situation of the State. The Sivasagar district administration also tightened the security with mobile patrolling and rigorous checking of the vehicles. The police administration has set up strong mobile vigilance group to monitor and tackle any untoward incident during these days.
You are cordially invited to attend the Republic Day celebration by Assam Association, Delhi at Srimanta Sankaradeva Bhawan on 26th January 2012 at 10.30am.
Dr. Sashanka Sk. Dutta (RSVP: 9818241962)General Secretary
In a major hit and run accident between a school bus and motor cycle on Wednesday morning at around 9 am, motor cycle rider died on the spot. Angry commuters in the area burn the traffic point point, as the point was empty for the last couple of months.
The concluding programmes of 125 years completion of Dibrugarh Amolapatti Namghar will be held with four-days colourful programmes from January 27-30. Distinguished guests from different corners of teh state are invited for the celebration. Four dramas - Pritya Biyug, Baan, Bikhoy Hobo Prem and Bihuramar Bagisa will be staged in the four evenings. A souvenir "Natya Mancha" will be released on this occasion. MP Prithibi Majhi and Pranati Phukan will be attended as special guests in the open session.
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