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.
8 Oct 2009 - 10:58am | Aiyushman Dutta
India’s Northeast can rightfully be considered an uncrowned jewel, what with its remarkable beauty and splendour. The topographical, geographical, cultural and other factors which distinguish...
11 Aug 2010 - 11:26am | editor
Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh says his government would not allow any big dam to be constructed in the north eastern region. His assurance came up when Assam's RTI activist Akhil Gogoi...
16 Aug 2015 - 2:36pm | AT News
Will you believe that Tarun Gogoi is involved in the Louis Berge bribery? Without his consent how the then GMDA minister and his powerful circle of officers took bribe from the Canada based firm for...
15 Jan 2009 - 3:34pm | Arindam Garg
Assam Times: First of all could you please tell us how you spent your early life in Assam and also how you shift to Europe. I was born and brought up at Jorhat. I attended the lower primary school...
Noted sports organizer and senior Congress leader Phani Sarma breathed his last at his own residence at Bamunimaidam here at 7.15 a.m. today. He was 76.He was the treasurer of ruling Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) and also involved with many other socio-cultural organizations of the State. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Assam Congress president Bhubaneswar Kalita deeply mourned the death of Sarma and said that the state had lost a dedicated sports organizer at his death. They also prayed to the almighty for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed their deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Our correspondent from Guwahati: In a bid to unite all regional forces to recoup power at Dispur from Congress, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has determined to constitute a working group for unification. And they are all set to get a new president to clear the decks for the much-hyped reunification. This was decided by the party in its central executive committee meeting held at Mangaldoi on Sunday. Most of the members of the committee have come down heavily on party president Brindaban Goswami for his failure to coalesce the party with AGP (Progressive) led by former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The party top guns came down heavily on Goswami for his lack of efficiency and asked...
1) Three Match One day series starting on Tuesday (27th of June 2007). 2) One-off one-day match against Pakistan July 3. 3) A full tour of England where India will take on the hosts in a three-match Test series and seven one-dayers starting July 19.
Belfast : India won a rain curtailed one day match against Ireland. Unbeaten half centuries from Gautam Gambhir and Sourav Ganguly helped India register a nine-wicket victory at the Civil Service Cricket Club here on Saturday. Chasing a target of 171 in 39 over set by the Irish team, India reached 172 runs for one wicket in 35 overs with Gambhir contributing an unbeaten 80 and Ganguly scoring 75 not out. Almost three hours of playing time was lost because of rains. Put into bat first Ireland made 193 but the target for India was revised to 171, according to the Duckworth-Lewis method. Piyush Chawla, was the main wicket taker for India with a haul of three wickets for just 29 runs in...
Sibasagar police has arrested four individual for alleged links with ULFA. Among them three individuals are from Sibasagar and one from Moran. The individuals have been arrested for assisting in collection and supplying huge amount of money to ULFA. The arrested individuals have been identified as Mr Pradeep from Nivedon Stores, Mr Radheshyam from Apsara Store and another all hailing from Sibasagar and Mr Bikash Agarwal from Moran. Ironically while on the one hand ULFA is threatening North Indians to leave Assam at the same time we find them also assisting the ULFA.
The first Mobile Banking facility in Assam was inaugurated in Diphu on 21st July,2007. LANGPI DEHANGI RURAL BANK which is mostly in Karimganj and North Cachar Hills District is introducing it in Assam. It was inaugurated by famous personalities like Dr. M.K. Nayak (Deputy general manager,SBI), Mr. B.K. Phukan (DIF, sectional officer), Mr. K.C. Behra, Mr. G.K. Sarmah and Mr. N.K. Hazarika. This is indeed good news for the people of Assam and should pave the way for many such initiatives.
Our Correspondent The overall flood situation in Assam improved on Saturday as the water level of the Brahmaputra, and its tributaries shows a receding trend but the brimful woes of those displaced are going on. According to latest informations, the mighty Brahmaputra is flowing below the danger level. The first wave this time displaced as many as 30,000 people ravaging properties worth Rs 2 crore ravaging a total land area of about 4,285 hectares, including nearly 1,150 hectares of farmland.The Government’s distribution of relief resources like rice and other essential commodities, besides medicine and healthcare facilities are continuing, say officials.Our Correspondent from...
Guwahati: In yet another ‘handiwork,’ ULFA explodes a powerful bomb in the busy Machkhowa areas on Saturday morning at around 7-30 which left four people dead and more than twenty injured.The blast that rocks again in the time of the grand Ambubachi mela atop Kamakhya and Asian Athletic Grand Prix at Sarusajai, took place in front of a mosque. All those four were killed on the spot.The bomb was placed beside a small tea stall at the daily fruit and vegetable market. Most of the vendors and visitors were not present in the morning when the bomb exploded.The injured people have been admitted to the nearby hospital for treatment by the people who rushed to the spot hearing the...
Guwahati: Union minister for development of the north eastern region Mani Shankar Aiyar says the Look East Policy can be successful only when the region links with South East Asia.Addressing a visiting delegation from Thailand on Friday in Agartala, Mr Aiyar says the South East Asia’s link with the north eastern region cannot come only through trade but through an integral business relationship.Disclosing that the Government pins hope on as many as 50 more airports in the North East within the next five years, the minister this will help the region boost trade with the South East Asia.According to Mr. Aiyar, some of the key areas of economic activity where Thailand has made its mark...
Guwahati: A powerful bomb that explodes in the city on Saturday morning leaves four people dead besides more than twenty injured.he explosion took place at Machkhowa and that too in front of a mosque at a daily vegetable market at around 7-30 am. All those killed in the explosion are pedestrians.Immediately after the explosion, top ranked police and civil administration officials arrived in the spot and investigation is going on.The injured were admitted to the nearby hospital.No one has so far been rounded up in the city. Details are awaited.
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