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 water level is showing a receding trend on Sunday after it claimed altogether 27 people besides leaving more than thirteen lakh people affecting in altogether 14 districts. But the roaring Brahmaputra and its tributaries are still flowing above the danger level in several places.According to information, the water level of the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries is showing a receding trend bit slightly. The Brahmaputra river is rising in Dibrugarh and Goalpara while its showing a steady trend in Kamrup. In Jorhat, Dhubri and Tezpur there is slight fall in the water level of the river.On the other hand, the water levels in the Dharamtul river is falling in Nagaon while in Barpeta the...
The flood situation in Assam is improving during the last 48 hours an aroused blame game is refusing to recede. Several political parties are demanding probe into the corruption that has crippled the state’s water resources department.The water levels of the roaring Brahmaputra river and its tributaries are showing a receding trend. But the those marooned people have yet to get out of the blues. Hundreds of the who have been lodging in the make shift camps have yet to leave for their houses in Balakhowa, Itakhuli, Lejai and the adjoining areas in Dibrugarh district which came under the surging waters of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries Checha and Dihing.Dibrugarh MP Sarbananda...
Once again the nation will gather dutifully this year on the 5th of September to pay tribute to the hard work put by the teachers all year long. Once again teachers will be exhorted to show exemplary competence, dedicated hard work and unwavering commitment in their onerous task of nation building.Indian tradition compares a teacher to God. So like any other god she is installed on a pedestal and then best forgotten. Hers is a life meant only for selfless service to others. A good teacher should be able to stand high above her students and yet be on their level; she should be able to do 101 things other than teach her subject well; she needs to be tough and soft at the same time.And God...
HTML clipboard Senior Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leader and Union Minister of State for Water Resources Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav accused the Bihar government of massive flood in the state by being "totally negligent" in taking preventive measures. According to a media briefing on 3 Septemer 2008, Yadav alleged that Bihar State Water Resources Department, till August 17, kept on giving reports from the flood control cell that all the embankments under its jurisdiction were safe. However, when a breach in the east Kosi embankment at Kusaha in Nepal occurred on August 18, Yadav said, the Bihar Government came up with a report that erosions were taking place at the Kosi dam in Upper...
Agriculture Minister of Assam Pramila Rani Brahma along with JP Meena, IAS Agriculture Production Officer and Commissioner, Chairman of the State Bamboo Steering Committee attending a video conference at the launch of the video conferencing facility and ARIAS Website at PC U Conference Hall, Khanapara in Guwahati on 02-09-08. PHOTO: UB PHOTOS.
The Asom Gana Parishad has failed to finalise the unification process in the face organizational bunglings that threatens to mar the move to unit the regional forces. The regional party’s executive meeting on Tuesday night remained inconclusive and deferred the decision till September 21.The meeting the AGP’s steering committee was held at the party’s headquarters on Tuesday took several important decisions including the flood and erosion problems of the state.
Making an end to all speculation, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has effected a minor reshuffle of his cabinet. Gogoi stripped Bharat Narah off the water resource department and gave it to planning and development minister Prithvi Majhi. The newly inducted Akan Bora was given the social welfare portfolio while Ajanta Neog, will look after PWD. Earlier Gogoi was holding the PWD. Bharat Narah, who was holding the water resources department was given cooperative department.Earlier, Akon Bora was sworn in as a cabinet minister. The expansion came up after the arrest of sacked education minister Ripun Bora. Soon after Bora’s arrest, Gogoi had distributed the education department into...
Assam observes the Abhiruchi Sports Day across the state on Wednesday to mark the birth day of Bhugeswar Baruah. But an ailing Arjun awarde winner Bhogeswar Baruah will not be able to attend the central function being organized in the city of Guwahati on Wednesday. This septuagenarian sportsman is Bhugeswar Baruah, who stunted the world by striking gold in the 800 meter race at the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games. Now he is 72 years old but still young in his heart. The state observes his birth day on September 3 as the Abhiruchi Sports Day. On Wednesday it’s 25th Abhiruchi Sports Day.
Asam’s over all flood situation in Assam remains unchanged on Wednesday as some more areas have come under the surging waters of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.Everywhere there is flood waters following the rains during the last 48 hours. The worst hit Majuli, the site of the Vaishnavite culture..it’s more devastating which have rendered thousands of people homeless. The Matmora flood waters entered Borbeel and Samara-aati to wreck havoc for the river island. The Vaishnavite monasteries including Bhugpur, Sarusingha, Samoguri, Borelengi Satra, natun Kamalabari, Bengena-aati Satra, Aaoni-aati, Belsodia have been submerged by flood waters.According to information, more 165...
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