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 Assam government demands Rs 20, 495 crore grant from the 13th Finance Commission citing the adverse impact of the global economic meltdown besides in view of the Sixth pay panel recommendation.In memorandum submitted to the 13th pay panel on Thursday, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi requested the commission to consider the fall in the state’s own tax and non tax revenue and its share of central taxes and steep fall in international crude oil prices leading to oil royalty loss by more than Rs 1000 crore per annum.He said the Commission should look in to the ramification of 6th Pay Commission and global economic meltdown. Gogoi has also cajoled Finance Commission to raise the aggregate...
The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the over probe into the October 30 serial blasts in Assam. According to information,the central agency has issued a notification to this effect on Thursday after the Assam government formally urged the Centre to go for it.
It is learnt that a 30 member CBI team led by DIG P Kamrajis arriving the state on Friday for investigation.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi agreed to suggestions made by various political parties for a CBI probe into the blasts that left 84 people dead and over 400 injured. The suggestions were made during an all-party meeting held under the chairmanship of Gogoi to discuss the situation arising out of the blasts...
Assam has completed the first phase of poultry culling operation in the bird flu-affected areas of Kamrup, Nalbari, Barpeta and Dibrugarh districts. Process iun progress for culling of around one lakh more poultry in these areas during mopping operations.Culling operation in Sarpara, Patgaon and Raja Bazar areas of Kamrup district has been completed and no fresh report of spread of the disease has been received from anywhere in the State.Assam Chief Minister has reviewed the situation at a high level meeting in Dispur on Wednesday asked the concerned officials to initiate massive awareness drives against the dreaded disease. Gogoi, further, appealed to the people to cooperate with the...
The Government will soon quicken the process of fencing along Indo-Bangla border if union home minister P Chidambaram is to be believed.In his statement in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, the home minister said it was not satisfied with the progress in fencing of the Indo-Bangla border and will take steps to quicken the process.According to the Union home minister, the country is convinced that terrorists are finding shelter in Bangladesh and the matter would again be taken up with Dhaka when a new democratic government comes to power there.He said, “I am not satisfied with the progress in fencing.The government will take steps to quicken the process of fencing along the Indo-Bangla...
The National Democratic Front of Bodoland is landing in yet another trouble. Several Bodo organisations in Karbi Anglong district have served the militant outfit an ultimatum to leave the hills distirct by December 25 to avoide major wrath.Addresing a press conference recently, these organisations have asked the militants for unconditional release of kidnapped teacher Ajit Basumatari before Christmas. Further, these Bodo organisations have threatened a massive movement against the NDFB in the district. These include Sahitya Sabha, All Bodo Women’s Welfare Federation, All Bodo Employees Association, All Bodo Students Union, Bodo Harimu Afad and the Ex-BLT welfare Association.The...
Gun will fall silent in Nagaland if the peace message that runs across the north eastern state is any indication. Festivity grips the state as the Christmas is round the corner. Only a few days are left for the festival in the state but this time it will be a festival that could usher it into a new era of peace. Pre-Christmas celebrations are underway with a message of peace. In a swashbuckling evening on Sunday, cutting across their ideological barriers, people thronged in thousands at Mon township with dance and music. For the first time, the NSCN (Khaplang) cadres were participating in the function represented the officials of altogether 15 churches.It was as if dance and music...
Culling operation in Assam has completed in three areas of two districts on Tuesday where the killer avian flu is creating panic. According to information, the number of birds culled so far reached nearly 4 lakh.Officials here say the 18-day exercise ended in the areas covering a radius of 3 km in Kamrup Rural and Kamrup Metro districts while the operations continued elsewhere in the state with the state veterinary and animal husbandry department aiming to create bird free zones in the other affected areas very soon.Nearly 5,40,000 affected birds have been targeted with 1.40 lakh birds remaining to be culled. Reports of unusual death of birds are coming from more areas in thge city of...
Senior journalist and editor of 'Prantik', Pradip Baruah will attend the next 'Guest of the Month' programme of Guwahati Press Club on December 20, 2008. The interactive session will begin at 2 pm.A conscious editor and a sincere observer of Assamese society will talk about the struggling period of his life during the programme-when he launched the fortnightly magazine 'Prantik' (Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia as chief editor) in 1981.The member-journalists are requested to attend the same.
Stung by the recent spate of events, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, NDFB General Assembly has removed Ranjan Daimary and appointed Dhiren Boro as the new Chairman of the outfit.The Bodo militant outfit, which is now under ceasefire and faces serious charges of being allegedly involved in the several blasts. The General Assembly which was held after 8 long years, and that too in the absence of Ranjan Daimary, at Serfunguri under Kokrajhar district on Monday.
CPM general secretary Prakash Karat says the country needs a third front for a better future.
Addressing a mammoth rally in Guwahati on Sunday the party’s he said need of the hour is a non BJP and non Congress force to make an end to the current situation.
In his address, the CPM general secretary warned the UPA government of dire consequences if it fails to halt the bill for foreign investment in the country’s banking and insurance sector. He said communal forces like BJP and RSS can’t fight terrorism.
Karat further said the party was trying its best to work out a non Congress and non BJP front before the Lok Sabha poll saying it is right time for the...
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