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.
The much awaited meet between delegation of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibarton and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, which was scheduled to be held on Monday, canceled.
Bishnu Rabha Diwas organised at Hatigaon High School by Navarun Sahitya Sabha. Program headed by prabitra kalita, and diginified guests Dr. Sailen Bharali delibart speech on the life, strugale of Bishnu Rabha Related to Rabha divas quiz, essay competition held.
Assam's noted RTI activist Akhil Gogoi says CBI should grill Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi to unearth the involvement of his powerful ministers in the multi-crore scam in Dima Hasao district. Talking to reporters on Saturday Gogoi said without the support of the people in power nobody can siphone off the huge amount of fund.
Designer Karabi Medhi launched her new apparel and accessories brand 'Papilion' at Silver Square, Guwahati on Friday evening, June 18. The event showcased a range of fresh, well matched and creative products. The event was presented by North East Beauty Forum.
Photo: UB Photos.
A delegation of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibarton has arrived in Delhi on Saturday to call on prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday to clear the decks for holding talk between government and Ulfa.Before their date with the prime minister they are scheduled to hold with union home minister P Chidambaram along with a circle of political leaders.On the other hand, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi who is camping in the capital is helping the possible interlocutor P C Halder formulate a set of guidelines for the talk.Gogoi is also expected to participate in the meetin with the prime minister.Before leaving for Delhi on Saturday the chief convener Dr Gohain hoped the process to holh talk...
Indian Powerlifters returned home with handful of medals from Asian Powerlifting Championship that concluded at Ullen Batter, Mangolia on May 7. India altogether collected 22 medals which included 9 golds, 8 silvers and 5 bronzes from the championship.
India sent 36 members team in the tournament and Assam based sports journalist Kula Pradip Bhagawati was also a part of the team as a media manger. Altogether 529 participants from 17 countries took part in the 7-day championship.
The name of the Indian powerlifters who won medal in the championship: Gold- Bhagyawati Devi (master-1, 67.5 kg), Sangita Singh (82.5 kg junior), Sangita Barik (82.5kg, open), Divya Devdas (90+ kg, sub...
A delegation of civil society is leaving for Delhi on Saturday to help ULFA and the government break the deadlock over the talk. Main organizer Dr Hiren Gohain is understood to have received a call from the PMO to meet Manmohan Singh. But the schedule for the date with PM would be finalized only after they reach Delhi. Apart from Dr Gohain, the delegation has Dr Nirmal Chaudhury, Hiranya Bhattacharya, Dr Rohini Barua, Indibor Deuri.
In a major achivement city police have arrested 3 persons who have confessed the killing of engineer Manik Baishya on Thursday in Guwahati. During interrogation they confessed before police that they killed the engineer for money. They include drive Ganesh Bharali, whom Baishya recruited 3 months back.
Sensation prevails in Tinsukia after suspected Ulfa men torched a tea estate office on Thursday. Four armed youth came to the manager's office of Bajrangapur tea garden and sought manager Indra Barua. Barua was not available. The angry youths vandalized the office and set some files on fire. Sources told assamtimes that Barua received extortion notice two months back.
Utter insecurity still persists in Guwahati these days. Despite heavy presence of security forces, suspected Ulfa militants killed an engineer after he was kidnapped on the way back to his home on Thursday. The incident took place when agriculture department engineer Manik Baishya called up his wife at 7.30 evening that he was forcibly towards Jalukbari. Later at 9.30 pm his body was recovered near APRO office. It was learnt that Baishya received a number of phone calls demanding money. He also took up it with city police.
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