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.
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The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has accused the Government of shying away from peace talk saying it has become clear that the only government has been lacking interest and goodwill for a fruitful negotiation. In a statement, the chairman of the proscribed outfit Arbinda Rajkhowa said the door for political negotiation is still open.
Once again the NEEPCO is running into a rough weather. There is report that the Black Widow militants have demanded a Rs 1 crore ransom from the general manager of the power corporation. This has forced the authority to beef up security ring in the region. Notably, the militants have been striking the area. On February 11, they struck a convoy of Assam Police battalion while it was escorting the Kopili poject employees from the project site to the colony area. Four people including three security men dead in the attack. This has forced the closure of the Kopili power project. Very recently, the militants killed four employees of the Vinoj Cement factory by attacking two dumping trucks and...
Today is Bir Chilarai Day which is being observed across the state with a number of programmes. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is schedule to attend a public meeting being organized to mark the occasion in Amingaon based Chilarai Park. To be presided over All Asam Koch Rajbanshi Association Dr Durlabh Chamua, health and family welfare minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, transport minister Chandan Brahma with former minister Anjan Dutta will attend the meeting. Meanwhile, Bir Chilarai Award this year been announced to kargil Hero Zintu Gogoi.
Former Team India captain Saurav Ganguly and his successor Mahender Singh Dhoni will be seen in action when they will lead Bengal and Jharkhand respectively at the East Zone Ranji Trophy cicket championships slated for February 26 in Guwahati. According to Asam Cricket Association officials, apart from the home team, Orissa, Tripura will also join the battle for the Cup. Other cricketing stars include Randep Bose, SS Paul, Sunder das, Niranjan behera, Debashis Mohanty and Sadgopal Ramesh.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is leaving for Tripura on Wednesday to campaign for the upcoming Assembly polls slated for February 23. According to information, Mr Gogoi is schedule to address poll rally in Kailashnagar on Wednesday and will stay for the night. On Thursday, the Chief Minister will also campaign in Dharmanagar area before leaving back to Guwahati.
Union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and Oscar Fernandage today had a narrow escaped from a major accident when their helicopter caught in bad weather while he was returning from North Tripura district after campaigning for Congress candidates with Prime Minister. His helicopter had to roam in the air for more then half an hour before the pilot managed to noseland in Agartala. In yet another incident, a helicopter in the same route also met the same fate in which union minister Oscar Fernandage was traveling with Assam Rajya Sabha MP Dijwen Sharma.
The police could not produce the arrested PCG member and MASS leader Lachit Bordoloi before the court as he has been rushed to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital following his ailment police on Tuesday failed to produce him before the Kamrup district judicial magistrate. The peace broker and human rights leader Lachit Bordoloi has been rushed to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital on Monday following complains of Melina, spondelities and piles. He was arrested by police on 11th of February charging with a bid to hijack an Indian Airlines plane with ULFA on the basis of the confessional statement of an arrested ULFA cadre Manoj Tamuly.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who also hold the finance portfolio, will table the state budget for 2008-2009 on the floor of the Assam Assembly session on March 10. According to information, the session will start on March 3 with the address of Assam Governor Lt General (retd) Ajoy Kumar Singh. The business advisory committee of the House will finalise the proceeding in its meeting on February 25.
The gun has yet to fall silent atop the North Cachar hills. In yet another strike, the Black Widow militants killed four people of the Vinoy Cement Factory on Tuesday in Umrangsu at a distance of more than 100 from Haflong. According to information, the strike took place at around 11 in the morning while the militants attacked two dumper cars at a distance of 5 kilometer away from the factory. Further, the militants set the two dumper cars ablaze. Notably, in its earlier attack, the militants killed four people including three security personnel while they attacked a convoy carrying Kopili power project officials to their colony campus. This has forced the employees of the NEEPCO-owned...
Normal life in the state has come to a grinding halt across the state due to the 12-hour Assam bandh on Tuesday. Called by the United Liberation Front of Asom, the bandh is by and large peaceful. There is no report of any incidents during this period. Schools, colleges, offices, business, financial and establishments are remaining closed. All sorts vehicles are remaining off from the streets. The city is remaining closed and calm. The bandh began at 5-30 in the morning to end at 5-30 in the evening. However, train and flight services are operating normally during the bandh hours. The bandh however, had no impact in North Cachar and Karbi Anglong districts. The ULFA called the bandh...
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