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.
Padma Shri Dr. Birendranath Datta inaugurated the Alcheringa' 09, the cultural festival of Indian Institute of Technology ( IIT ) Guwahati on January 29 at IIT Guwahati auditorium.
The Centre is keen to take all possible steps to seal the Indo-Bangla border to stop illegal infiltration from across the border and will go ahead with the complete construction of border fencing.This was conveyed by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to an all-party delegation from Assam Assembly who met him at New Delhi on Friday.Talking to reporters after the meeting, Assam Assembly Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai told reporters after the 20-minute meeting, "the Home Minister told us that the Central government is committed to stop illegal infiltration. He informed us that all necessary steps would be taken to seal the Indo-Bangla border".
An all party delegation from Assam is schedule to call on Union home minister P Chidambaram in Delhi on Friday to exert pressure on the Centre to expedite sealing of the porous Indo-Bangla border. The delegation on Thursday met external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee in the national capital and made the same request. The Assam Assembly is further schedule to meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh who is undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Science as he has a coronary bypass surgery on Saturday last.
Renowned maestro and Dada Saheb Phalke awardee Dr Bhupen Hazarika received Assam's highest award Assam Ratna at a solemn function on Thursday evening.The Assam government sponsored award, first of its kind in the north eastern states, was given away by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who appreciated the maestro for his outstanding contribution to Assam and India.Receiving the award, Dr Hazarika, known for his evergreen lyrics Tothapito Huwanai Klanta, said his flying mind confines not only to Assam and India saying he belongs to the world. Right from Barak Hussain Obama to the small fries across the planet, he said he sang for all.Several artists performed Bhupendra Sangeet at this function...
Police have arrested two suspected ultras of Harkat-ul-Jehad-al-Islami with arms and ammunition in Sonitpur district.According to information, A battalion of Assam Rifles nabbed them at Thelamara near Borgaon. Two 9-mm pistols, three cartridges, a mobile set and Rs 712 were recovered from their possession.Police claimed they have been identified as Rafique Ali and Muhamad Ali of Nagaon district.The militants are suspected to be indulged in subversive activities at Bodo Sahitya Sabha venue at Borgaon where a large number of people had gathered for a three-day literary meeting of ethnic Bodos.
Two policemen and a hardcore ULFA cadre died at an encounter in Sivasagar district on Thursday. According to information, the encounter took place at Kanubari area under Charaideo sub division in the district. Four powerful IED have been recovered from the spot. Army and CRPF jawans are also present in the encounter. The deceased policemen were identified as Bhimkanta Upadhay, an ASI and constable Debojit Buragohain.
There is fierce gun battle between ULFA and police in upper Assam's Sivasagar district. According to information, the encounter is taking place at Kanubari area in Nazira subdivision. Army and CRPF jawans are also helping police eliminate the ULFA rebels. Details awaited.
The AGP-BJP seat sharing is concluding in Delhi on Thursday morning without arriving at a consensus. But both the parties have decided to fight unitedly against Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha poll. The Asom Gana Parishad leaders are holding a brainstorming round of talks with BJP central leaders in Delhi to finalise the seat sharing deal for the upcoming Lok Sabha poll. According to our correspondent in Delhi, the meeting is underway in Delhi at the residence of BJP president Rajnath Singh where AGP leaders are present.The BJP stalwarts include Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj while AGP leaders present in the meeting include MPs Sarbananda Sonowal, Dr Arun Sarma, Birendra Prasad Baishya...
The Central Bureau of Investigation rolls up its sleeves to book a few more top ranked NBCC officers in connection with the Rs 44 crore scam in the road and bridge construction works in Assam.According to information, the investigation agency is understood to have got more clues as it is probing the muti-crore scam. Two top arrested officers of the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) BC Dhiman and P K Mittal have made some sensational revelations in their confessional statement. Investigation is progress.Meawhile, P K Mittal has been remanded to CBI custody for five days after he was arrested in Shillong on Tuesday. According to allegation, the Rs 5 lakh bribe amount Dhiman...
Eminent scholar and writer Sanjib Baruah will attend the 'Guest of the Month' programme of Guwahati Press Club on Friday (January 30, 2009). The programme will begin at 1 pm sharp.The professor of Political Studies at Bard College, New York and honourary professor at Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, Baruah will interact with the members of the press club during the programme.Member-journalists are cordially invited for the same.
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