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.
ULFa has killed a gaonburah in lower Assam’s Udalguri disitrct on Sunday afternoon.. According to information, the goanburah of Dolongghat Khagendranath Deka was shot dead at Bhakatgaon by two motorcycle born youths. Later ULFA’s 27 Battalion has owned up the responsibility. High level police officials arrived on the spot later on and investigation is going on.
Despite a simmering situation along the Assam-Meghalaya border, Assam health minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has laid the foundation stone a Primary health centre at Langpih, a place in Kamrup district which is claimed by Meghalaya. The neighbouring state decided to maintain a wait and watch policy helping the area avoid a major clash. Dr Sarma on Saturday along with his forest department counterpart Rockybul Hussain, AGP MLA Jyoti Prasad Das, youth Congress leader Rekibuddin Ahmed, Kamrup deputy Commissioner R C Jain, police superintendent Debojit Hazarika did it and not only that Dr Sarma announced a Rs 12 crore package for the development of the almost inaccessible area.In his address...
Majuli is set to be declared as a world heritage site on June 6. According to information, the decision to this effect would be formally approved at the UNESCO meeting slated for June 6. The global body is considering the long standing demand from the Government of India with due seriousness. Hours after the formal approval, the announcement is set to be made. The announcement for the seat of the vaishnavite culture, was to be made three for years back but it has not been possible in the absence of some official procedure from the Central and state government.
Good news. Really a good news for the state government employees as the Assam Government has set up the Sixth Pay Commission headed by former Union Secretary Bhaskar Baruah. A notification issued to this effect, said that the panel will examine the principles governing the structure of emoluments and conditions of the state government employees. Along with others, it will further suggest re organization of the existing service with a view to improving rationalization of work load and efficiency. Other members of the panel are Surendra Mohan Deka, Shantikam Hazarika while the Assam government's principal secretary of the finance department will be its member secretary. The Commission will...
Five Assam Rifles jawans in Jorhat have been arrested and sent to jail on Saturday for trying to kidnap a girl while she was on her way back to home after enjoying a Bihu festival.According to information, five jawans of the Assam Rifles were trying to molest some five girls at Garmurh area in Jorhat at around 11-30 on Friday night. A few girls were on their way back to their homes after attending a Bihu festival. The jawans from the Lekhapani camp tried to forcibly give them lift them on their gipsy. They even lifted one of these girls and took away from the G K Palace Hotel at Garh Ali. On the way, the jawans halted following an accident of a car. All they went to rescue the car....
The Gujjar row is gradually spreading to the north eastern region with the embattled community getting ready to launch a Rajasthan like an agitation in a day or two.Talking to a news agency on Saturday, a Gujjar representative Bhai Gujjar said the Rajasthan Government has betrayed the Gujjars adding that neither the state Government nor the Centre has been listening to them.The Gujjar leaders in the entire north eastern region hold a meeting in the city of Guwahati on Friday and chalked out a programme to join the protests.The Gujjars of the region have already sought permission from both the Assam Government and Meghalaya Government to allow them to sit in peaceful and democratic stir.
Army have picked up one Kamala Rajkonwar in upper Assam's Sivasagar district in the wee hours on Saturday. According to information, Rajkonwar, a 52 year old person is a MASS leader and a PCPIA activists, was picked up by Army's 316 Field Regiment from his house and was later handed over to Mathurapur police station. Investigation is going on.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's convoy passes the new flyover at Bhangagarh for public use after the inaugural ceremony in Guwahati on 30-05-08. The flyover which took more than 3 years is the one of the ambitious programme of the state government to build flyovers in the city for smooth commute. Pix by UB Photos.
A day after the unified command meeting, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi says talks with militant group is possible only within the framework of the Constitution.Talking to reporters in the city on Friday, the Chief Minister said, "we are ready for negotiation with any group provided they gave up violence and are willing to talk within the framework of the Constitution."According to the Chief Minister, the three tier unified command structure held a threadbare discussion on the issue of talks with the extremist groups.He said the state government will remain open for talks with extremist groups who are willing to surrender arms, live in designated camps, abjure violence and neither...
Tension is simmering in Langpih in Kamrup district along the Assam-Meghalaya border following the brisk preparation by the Assam Government to set up a primary health centre on Saturday while the Meghalaya Government is all set to prevent Assam from doing it saying it falls under Meghalaya territory.An angry Meghalaya Government was quick to call up union home secretary Madhukar Gupta seeking his intervention but the Assam government sticks to the gun. Health and family welfare minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and forest minister Rockybul Hussain are schedule to visit the area on Saturday to lay the foundation stone of the health centre.Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Secretary has sent a letter...
Comments
Pages
Add new comment