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.
Stunned by the cash deal allegations, a stunned Asom Gana Parishad asked Assam health minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma to produce evidence with video footage within 24 hours.Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Tuesday, AGP spokesman Atul Bora said what Dr Sarma has said is totally baseless. Bora further said the party would take Dr Sarma to the court if he fails to prove his charges of cash transaction.According to Bora, Dr Sarma was trying his best to create a string of pree poll violence so that the party could extract political mileage from the troubled waters. The AGP leader countered the charges of AGP's negligence for the minorities and women in the list of candidates saying...
Altogether six persons died at a tragic road accident in Dhubri on Monday night sending shockwaves across the district. According to information, the accident took place, as their Maruti Van collided its head on a truck at the National Highway No 31 near Targhat in Dhubri. Another kid who sustained serious injury is undergoing treatment at the Dhubri Civil Hospital.According to eyewitness, the Maruti van was on its way to Dhubri coming from Bilasipara which collided its head on a truck which was coming from the opposite side. The six deceased who died on the spot were Amir Ali, Safira Bibi, Manika Khatun and Manjuma Khatun and Sanowar Hussain, Sabeda Bibi.
Atleast 3 persons died and five injured as a truck fell on a deep gorge in Karbi Anglong disitrct on Monday evening. According to information, the incident took place at around 8 in the evening at an inaccessable area in between Neli and Ulukunchi under Baithalangsu.
Assam health minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has alleged cash deal between AGP and BJP as when both the parties were striking deal for the Lok Sabha which evoked sharp reaction from the regional party who dared Sarma to show evidence if any.Talking to reporters in Guwahati on Monday, Dr Sarma said he has evidence to substentiate his proof and that he would further make more revelations if need be. The Congress leader further has asked the AGP president to seek apology for his uncheritable comments on Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, a comment Patowary passed a few hours before Dr Sarma was addressing the reporters. Dr Sarma also criticised the AGP list of candidates saying it lacks...
A devastating fire that broke out at Paltanbazar area in the city of Guwahati ravaged properties on Monday morning. According to information, the incident took place at a Building which later was spread ollowing the burst of a few a few LPG cylinders.Fire tenders were called to douse the fire and no one was injured in the incident.
The Asom Gana Paroshad on Monday has announced the full list of its candidates fielding former minister Gunin Hazarika from Kaliabor and Sabda Rabha from Kokrajhar for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.The announcement was made at a press conference in Guwahati on Monday where Bhupen Rai's name was announced as the candidate for Barpeta. The party has fielded tea tribe leader Joseph Toppo from Tezpur contrary to the speculation of fielding Padma Hazarika.The party has earlier announced Sarbananda Sonowal as candidate for Dibrugarh and Dr Arun Sarma from Lakhimpur. The party has decided to field only six candidates only this time because of the poll alliance with BJP.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi pins hope on the Congress victory in all Lok Sabha seats in the state.Addressing the political convention of the party at the Sarusajai Indoor Stadium on Sunday, Gogoi said the AGP regime is nothing but a blot in the history of Assam. In yet another development AGP and BJP categorically slammed Congress for its comment on AGP-BJP poll pact a day after Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and Pradyut Bordoloi termed it a surrender of AGP before BJP. In two separate press conferences in Guwahti on Sunday, both the party said the ruling party is scared of losing their ground in the state. AGP spokesman Atul Bora and BJP spokesman Charan Deka further said the ruling party is...
The much-hyped third front is set to fall flat in its bid to have a non Congress and non BJP government. Barring CPI and NCP leaders there were no leaders from AUDF and CPI(M) as it was convening a meeting on Saturday to discuss the poll strategies. The entire front is collapsing as all the constituents are running on their own course.
The Asom Gana Parishad will announce the list of the candidates on Monday for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls slated in Assam for April 16 and 23. The party decided it as the was holding a steering committee meeting at the party headquarters on Saturday night. The meeting discussed former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta’s name as a candidate from Kaliabor constituency. Notably, the regional party will contest in altogether 6 seats while BJP will field candidates on 8 seats for the alliance. The party further has decided to field Dr Arun Sarma from Lakhimpur and Sarbananda Sonowal from Dibrugarh. Both they ae sitting MP.
For the first time in its history, the Assam Assembly witnessed a bizarre incident where a section of the Assembly physically assaulted two MLAs during the one day session convened to pass the vote on account.According to eyewitness firstly it was a mild tussle which later took the grim turn forcing the Assembly Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai to step in. Two BPF legislators namely Maneswar Brahma and Maheswar Boro physically assaulted Under Secretary Jyoti Prasad Baruah in a corridor of the secretariat as the officer was standing in the morning which irked the MLAs. Later a section of the employees came out and gheraoed the two legislators and assaulted both the legislators. Further they the...
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