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.
No. 28 (A & C) Battalion of ULFA publishes a monthly magazine “Hondhikhyon”. The magazine was released by Bhupen Saikia, Principal of Dibrugarh D.H.S.K.Law collage at ULFA Designated camp, Kakopathar, Tinsukia on 25-10-08. Photo: UB Photos.
The Opposition parties on Friday sharply pinned down both Delhi and Dispur in Parliament for failing to deal with the communal riot that claimed atleast 55 people in lower Assam district of Darrang and Kokrajhar districts.Participating in a lively debate on communal violence in Orissa, Karnataka and Assam, BJP MP Kiren Rijuju alleged that the Centre is not serious on the subject as it in the case of Orissa. He said it’s a fall out of the infiltration of the Bangladeshi immigrants. He urged home minister to visit the north eastern states. He further demanded Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s resignation after being proved that Bangladeshi immigrants are still there in his state after...
"Diabetes is a deadly disease, and each year, almost 4 million people die from diabetes-related causes. Children, particularly in countries where there is limited access to diabetes care and supplies, die young", according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) which is an umbrella organization of over 200 member associations in more than 160 countries. IDF leads World Diabetes Day (www.worlddiabetesday.org) which falls on 14th November. The campaign is focusing its efforts on raising awareness of diabetes in children and adolescents.Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases to affect children. Every day more than 200 children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes,...
A huge gathering seen during period for submission of tender papers of vehicles at Oil India Limited’s contract office in Duliajan on 21-10-08. Photo: UB Photos.
A Division Bench of Supreme Court of India comprising JJ Dalbir Bhandari and H.S. Bedi after hearing Prof. Bhim Singh, Advocate for the petitioner ALOK, a human right group in Assam and Mr. Amarender, Senior Advocate for the Union of India regarding the case of Select Killings in Assam between 1998 and 2001 known as Select Killings, the Supreme Court allowed Prof. Bhim Singh to file Additional Affidavit in connection with extending the jurisdiction and scope of Justice K.N. Saikia Commission and enhancement of compensation to the victims upto 50 lacs. from 3.5 lacs. This was stated in a press release from the Prof. Singh's office in New DelhiALOK, a human right activist has filed a petition...
Five German cyclists, known as Karmariders, will tour 60 kms across Guwahati tomorrow, accompanied by a thousand cyclists and more than 500 walkers, mostly students from educational institutions. This is a part of the 2,500 kms North East Cycle Expedition undertaken by the German youths which has started from October 13. The tour will cover Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur and will culminate in Imphal on December 6. The Guwahati city tour will start from Latasil playground at 7 am tomorrow. It will go through Maligaon, Jalukbari, Dhirenpara, Beltola, Dispur and will culminate with a cultural programme at Nehru stadium at 5 pm in the evening. The event is being...
A media report labeled diabetes as a lifestyle disease. Rightly so, but it doesn't imply that poor and underserved communities are not at risk of diabetes. In fact, the World Diabetes Day (WDD) was created by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization in 1991, to draw attention of the world community towards escalating incidences of diabetes amongst the rich and poor, old and young alike. WDD is celebrated world wide on 14th November, on the birth anniversary of Fredrerick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin."Diabetes is affecting all classes of our society, be it rich or poor, high caste or low caste, urban or rural residents. So it is no longer the...
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations has recently issued a report which reveals that currently there are 75 million (7.5 crore) people in the world who have fallen victim to famine and if the current crisis of price rise persists this count may reach the total of 920.25 million (92.25 crore).India too is facing the same harsh situations where poorest of the poor of our country have to go to bed hungry. But at this crucial time when the country expects some stringent steps from the government's side, it is defending itself by saying that food crisis is a global problem which has already struck over 30 countries, most of which have witnessed food riots. It is not...
A 13 member business delegation of Czech Republic will visit Northeast from Sunday. The delegation led by Dr Hynek Kmonicek, the Ambassador of Czech Republic in India will pay visits to Guwahati, Shillong, Itanagar and Gangtok. The delegation will comprise of 4 companies of Aviation Sector, 3 companies of Small hydro Power sector and one from Small Brewery.The nine day visit will commence on 19th October. The NEDFi is coordinating the visit of the delegation and have arranged for open interaction with the local entrepreneurs in Shillong (21st Oct), Guwahati (22nd Oct), Itanagar (23 rd Oct) and Gangtok (25th Oct), stated in a press release from the financial institution."Apart from...
The eminent Bengali writer and literary translator Shaktimoy Das will attend the Guest of the Month programme of Guwahati Press Club on October 17 (Friday). The programme will begin at 12 noon.It may be mentioned here that Mr. Das, a resident of West Bengal, has already translated some outstanding literary works of Assam into Bengali language. Those includes Burhi Aair Sadhu (by Lakshminath Bezbaruah) and Kirtan Ghosa (by Srimanta Sankardev).Member-journalists are requested to participate in the programme at the press club auditorium.
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