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 cake controversy takes an interesting turn when the Kamrup Chief Judicial magistrate on Wednesday ordered CID to probe the allegations of disregarding the national tricolour by cutting and consuming a cake made in its shape by Chief Minister, his wife at a function at the Raj Bhawan.
The CJM court issued the order as it was hearing a petition moved in the court by lawyer and AIUDF HRA Chaudhury recently. It may be noted that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, his wife Dolly Gogoi and Governor J B Patnaik cut the cake and consumed at a function on the Republic day at the Raj Bhawan which invited sharp reactions in several quarters.
Jailed SULFA member Kamal Nath drops another bombshell against the Tarun Gogoi government. Targetting Assam health minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Kamal, an accused in the Danial Topno murder case, told reporters on Wednesday at the sessions court premises that Dr Sarma helped him get the bail as he was lodged in the Nagaon jail in 2005. The Surrendered ULFA man took centrestage recently with his revelations that 12 top ULFA men captured on the soil of Bhutan during the Operation AllClear was murdered in Shillong after being handed over and that it was a blueprint prepared by then Congress MP Mani KUmar Subba and Himanta Biswa Sarma.
This music institute created quite a buzz in Bangalore in 2009, by being the groundbreaking “First Registered Music Institute to be commenced by an Assamese”. With the festive spirits still vivacious, Eastern Fare Music Foundation had more than one reason to celebrate. Thanks to the trailblazing initiative by Jim Ankan, a music composer from Assam, the institute has not only completed a year but has done extremely well in the Trinity Guild Hall Exam for music. The students of Eastern Fare scored record percentages in the whole of Bangalore City (Shreya Krishnaswamy 98%).
The anniversary celebrations were conducted on 12th February at the Furtados Music Showroom in Koramangala...
A hardcore ULFA cadre was arested in Guwahati on Monday. According to information, identified as Kamal Boro the 709 battalion cadre was apprehended from Jalukbari area in thge wee hours during a joint operation by police and CRPF. He is said to be a resident of Udalguri.
ULFA on Saturday rejects any chance of talk with the government. Disclosing this, ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said that the atmosphere is not fresh and conducive for a meaningful talk. Rajkhowa talked to the reporters as he was taken to Regional dental College at Bhangagarh, Guwahati.
The body of Saheer Ahmed, was recovered on Saturday 6 days after he met watery grave on the river Brahmaputra. The body was spotted at around 9 in the morning at Uzanbazar by the local fishermen who called up police and relatives. Saheer, the Class IX student of the Gurukul Grammer Senior Secondary School in Guwahati was feared drown as he along with 6 other climates were holidaying at Sunsali on the mighty river. Same it happened to Simanta Saurav Gayan whose body was fisjed out on Friday.
The relatives of Saheer and Gayan called it a cold blooded murder but policemen investigating the case are still tightlipped. Five other boys, picked up after the incident were already released.
Jailed ULFA leader Sasha Chaudhury was brought to the Guwahat Medical College Hospital for check up on Saturday. Officials sources told Assam Times, it a routine health check up. The foreign secretary of the banned outfit was picked up in Bangladesh a few months back before being lodged to the Guwahati Central Jail.
ULFA Commander in Chief Paresh Baruah is trying to stymie the ongoing peace process if Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is to be believed. Talking to reporters on Saturday in Guwahati, Gogoi said the beleaguered Baruah is in a bid to regroup the shattered outfit and is scrambling to reunite the cadres. Notably, the ULFA is not responding to the government’s clarion call for coming over ground.
In a tragic incident that sends shockwave across the country at least 12 school children died, several others injured when a private hostel in Arunachal Pradesh cought fire on Wednesday.
According to information, the devastating fire fire broke out around midnight at a hostel built with bamboo and hay at Palin in Kurung Kummpy district, 260 km north of Itanagar. The authorites have already evacuated 8 severally injured school boys before being airlifted to hospitals in Itanagar. Twelve bodies were found.
The privately hostel had 62 students of a local branch of the Don Bosco school. Reason has yet to be ascertained. But initial report suggested it an accidental fire as students were...
An audio CD titled 'Ei Jibon Nohoi Xuna Bondhu' was released by veteran singer, Sudakshina Sarma, in Guwahati on 5th February 2010. The music album has songs by nationally-reputed singers such as Alka Yagnik, Kavita Krishnamurti, Pulak Banerjee, Debojit Saha and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil' Champs contestant Antara Nandy. Popular actor, Pranjal Saikia, is also a part of the album. The songs are written by Dr. Amal Saikia with music by Pratul Bora and Gupta Borthakur. Each song is theme-based and they highlight several issues which are relevant in modern-day India. 'Ei Jibon Nohoi Xuna Bondhu' has been produced by Bhargav Saikia and Dr. Amal Saikia under their banner, Encore Entertainment India. The...
Comments
Pages
Add new comment