Skip to content Skip to navigation

Anti dam protest greets Jairam Ramesh in Guwahati

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.


Comments

Hayang's picture

--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.

Pages

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Kidnappers arrested in Kokrajhar

17 Feb 2017 - 7:16pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Two kidnappers were apprehended at a joint operation of Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon district police today from Salakati area of Kokrajhar district, who were main accused person of kidnapping a person...

Gogoi feels heat of BTAD violence

2 May 2014 - 12:31pm | AT News
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi seems to have felt the heat of the ethnic frenzy that has claimed 12 lives in BTAD areas within the last 24 hours.ULFA’s anti talk faction has condemned the attack on the...

Antarctica Expedition member visits Don Bosco University

1 Sep 2013 - 9:07pm | CM Paul
The Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) had a visit from the one and only member of the Antartica Expedition 2013 from Northeast India. Rituraj Phukan from Nagaon  (Assam) was part of 30 member...

Candle light by ABSU

4 Mar 2016 - 7:21pm | Hantigiri Narzary
A candle lighting rally was organized by the All Bodo Students Union paying homage to former Lok Sabha Speaker and Tura MP PA Sangma, who breathed his last today at his own New Delhi residence...

Other Contents by Author

Indefinite curfew has been imposed in Chirang district following the fresh outbreak of group clash where six more people were killed on Saturday. Additional security forces were rushed to the spot and the area sealed. More and more forces have been rushed to the district to efficiently deal with the situation.
Suggesting a rerun of violence in BTAD areas, six people were stabbed to death in Chirang district on Saturday.The incident took place at around 5-30 in the evening at Chaoudharipara at Bijni in the district. The bodies were dumped beside an abandoned vehicle in the evening. Security forces have reached the area and massive operations are going on to nab the culprits.With this, the total number of people killed in the violence has gone up to at least 85.
Karnataka deputy chief minister R Ashoka said that his state is safe and secured for north east people. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Saturday, Ashoka, who also holds the home portfolio said that those willing to return to Bangalore would be able to leave by train free of cost. He is also scheduled to visit Manipur on Sunday.
Karnataka deputy chief minister R Ashokaon Saturday met Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and briefed him about the steps taken by his government.Ashoka, who is leading a good will team to north east Karnataka government had contacted firms whose employees fled and promised to take them back in their previous jobs. He said 22 arrests have been made by Karnataka police so far and 17 cases registered. Of these, five were arrested for their alleged involvement in circulation of provocative SMS and video.
Assam Rifles on Saturday said that North east militants have shifted their bases to Myanmar in the face of crackdown by the Bangladesh security forces. Talking to reporters in Agartala on Saturday, Assam Rifles Inspector General Satish Dua said security forces have been asked by the Centre to maintain a strict vigil about the movement of the militants in the region.
Chief Minister’s anti corruption and vigilance cell unearthed a huge amount of money and some ornaments during a raid it conducted at a house in Guwahati on Saturday. The raid was conducted at the residence of a block development office who works at Mayong in Morigaon district. Led by superintendent of police Raunok Ali Hazarika, the 12 member team reached the BDO’s residence in Hatigaon area and found rupees and dollars of Rs 27 lakh put inside even flower bash and pillows. Investigation is going on.
Ending all speculations Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma resumed duty in Dispur on Saturday. Dr Sarma who withdrew his resignation on Friday signed a few NRHM files at his office on Saturday. But he refused to speak to the media. On August 15, Dr Sarma put in his papers without any formal comment. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also did not make any formal comment on Dr Sarma’s resignation. On Friday evening he called on Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at Koinadhara where he wanted to take his resignation letter back.
Dr. Phani Sharma Commemorative Talent Award for Sports for the to a promising sportsperson of the state. Year 2012 held on Auguast 23 at Anuradha Cineplex, Guwahati. This year’s award was given to Pwilao Basumatary, a promising Boxer of from Kokrajhar. The award carried a onetime grant of Rs.1,00,000. The event was attended by the Chief Minister TarunGogoi as the Chief Guest, Minister of Panchayat...
Finally Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday called on Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in a move to withdraw the resignation he tendered last week. After landing at the Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Dr Sarma straightly left for Koinadhara and called on the Chief Minister. According to sources, he let Gogoi know that he wanted to withdraw his resignation. But Dr Sarma is tightlipped on the entire political development. He on August 15 tendered his resignation. But he did not make it public.
Kakopathar police station in Dibrugarh district of Assam had a narrow escape when suspected ULFA militants lobbed a powerful grenade on Friday. The grenade attack took place at around 9 at night which exploded with a huge sound just a few meters away from police station. There is no report of any casualty as the grenade missed the target. Top ranked police officials arrived in the spot and a vigorous operation is going on to nab the culprits. But no outfit has so far owned up the responsibility.