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.
Shreemoyee Asomiya Mahila Samiti (SAMS) organized ‘Zubeen nite’ at Bunt’s Centre, Navi Mumbai on Novembver 28. The event was inaugurated by the chief guests, The Chief Adviser of SAMS...
The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) has decided to send a fact finding team to the communal valance affected areas of Mizoram and also meet all sections of people including those involved in relief and rehabilitation activities. The New Delhi based rights body has stated in a statement that it has accepted the offer of the Mizoram home minister Pu R. Lalzirliana to visit the State in a convenient time (preferably December 4 to 11).
In a recent press meet at in Aizawl, the minister welcome ACHR representatives to Mizoram and see the facts and ground realities by themselves. Mentionable that soon after the violent attacks on Bru minorities by the miscreants in the State, the ACHR...
Armed with a record number of new members, Assam Congress is preparing its ground works for next Assembly polls in 2011. This was what APCC president Bhubneswar Kalita told reporters on Saturday at the Rajiv Bhawan. Kalita said, "we are ready for the polls anytime" but in the same breath he said he was not qualified to make any comment on the advancing the elections. According to Kalita, APCC was preparing for the organisational elections in the first part of next year by mobilising a targeted 10 lakh primary membership till December 31 to hold the booth committee level or primary unit level polls. AICC central election authority member and NE organisational election observer AP Sethi, said...
Noted a social activist from Assam Akhil Gogoi has been selected for the first Right to Information national awards along with two others one each from IP and Arunachal Pradesh. A jury including actor Aamir Khan, former badminton player Pullela Gopichand, former chief justice of India J. S. Verma, former chief election commissioner J. M. Lyngdoh and dancer Mallika Sarabhai announced the awards on Friday evening. Gogoi got the award under the citizen category, Mishra under Public Information Officer category and the Arunachal Pradesh information commission under information commission category. The awards would be given on December 1.
According to information, RTI awards are an...
The ongoing strike by the Junior Doctors Association (JDA) at the premier institute of North East gets intensified on the 12th day as 9 of the junior doctors of the college went on an indefinite hunger strike. However all emergency duties are on full swing, to ensure the general public gets the service on time. In context the JDA also organized a Blood donation camp here on 23rd Nov. “The blood can be given to any needy patient and also can be transferred for the need of the Nalbari blast victims. People in need of blood can contact us directly.” says Dr.David Pegu, president of JDA. “The Govt. has given a deaf ear to the genuine needs of the Junior Doctors which are...
Shreemoyee Asomiya Mahila Samiti (SAMS), Mumbai is organizing 'Zubeen Garg' nite at Navi Mumbai (Juinagar) on November 28. SAMS always works for the benefit of the society. Their aim is to help the cancer patients, special child etc. It will be a great entertainment for all the Assamese people staying in Mumbai to enjoy the event. For more details contact:- 9867511706, 9833671616.
Saptarshi Hazarika
Veteran journalist Naresh Chandra Rajkhowa breathed his last at his residence at Chandmari in Guwahati at around 8.45 am today. He was 87. He left behind his wife Aparajita Rajkhowa, one son and three daughters and a host of relatives.
Born in Phukan Nagar in Sivsagar district of Assam, Rajkhowa started his career as a sub-editor with The Assam Tribune in 1946. Later he joined the Shillong office of The Assam Tribune in 1951. In 1973 Rajkhowa shifted his base to New Delhi and worked in national newspapers like The Statesman, The Hindu and Enadu in various capacities before retiring in 1983. A senior member and well wishers of the Guwahati Press Club, Rajkhowa was also involved with the...
At least four persons feared killed and more than 25 injured when three powerful bombs exploded in Nalbari town on Sunday. The first one blast took place at around 10 in the morning near the police station. The bomb was planted at a bicycle where three persons injured. This was followed by the second one blast 20 minutes later at the same spot where two persons feared killed and several others injured. Security forces are fanning in the area and the injured persons are being rushed to the hospital. It may be recalled that Assam police had inputs that a group of hardcore ULFA rebels has managed to sneak into Assam to strike before the protest day falling on November 27.
Veteran Orissa political leader Janki Ballab Patnaik has been appointed new Assam governor. This was what sources told from the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi. Patnaik will replace Syed Sibtey Razi who is retiring on November 30. Patnaik is scheduled to join on December 1.
A major ULFA attack awaitsd Assam before the Black Day on November 27. According to highly placed sources, a group of top ULFA rebels have managed to sneak into Assam to strike in some vital plances on November 27. These hardcore rebels recently sneaked into the state from Myanmar, Bhutan and Nagaland to carry out blasts in protest against the first army operation against the outfit on that date in 1991. The target is said to be the oil refineries. They include Bosa Singh, Pinku Phukan, Upen Borgohain, Bimal Kalita, Sadin Rai, Rajanikanta Singh, Pulak Bharali, Hitesh Rai and Akon Moran.
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