Skip to content Skip to navigation

Anti-Dam Voices Heard in New Delhi

By Nava Thakuria |

While anti-big dam protesters have assembled in eastern Assam for a mammoth public rally at Thekeraguri, serious concern is expressed in the national capital in an intense discussion. Addressing the rally at North Lakhimpur, eminent environmentalist Medha Patkar reiterated her stand that the people living in the catchment areas own a river and hence their interest must not be sacrificed to please the corporate players while going for larger hydro-electricity projects in India.


Meanwhile, attending a dialogue in memory of pioneer environmental journalist and activist of international repute, Anil Agarwal various speakers put forwards their fears that the hydro-electricity projects in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam would leave a devastating impact on the northeastern part of India and also in Bangladesh.


Organized by the Centre for Science and Environment at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, the two-day meeting was started with a keynote address by Sunita Narain, editor of Down To Earth, a CSE publication, where hundreds of environment activists and journalists across the country have participated.


Addressing the gathering, Partha J Das of Aaranyak (Guwahati, Assam) highlighted the overview of the government policy for Green Clearance to various hydro-electricity projects in northeast India. He revealed in his presentation that already 147 MoUs (out of 168 planned large HEPs in the region) had been signed with the Arunachal government (till July 2011).


“At least 55 projects have obtained scoping clearance and 12 projects (LSHEP for 2000 MW at Subansiri, Ranganadi-I for 405 MW at Ranganadi, Kameng for 600 MW at Kameng, Siyom /Middle Siang for 1000 MW at Siyom, Demwe Lowe for 1750MW at Lohit, Tawang-I for 750 MW at Tawang, Tawang-II for 750 MW at Tawang, Pare for 110 MW at Pare/Dikrong, Tato-II for 700 MW at Siang, Khuitam Lewuitkare for 66 MW at Gang/Bishom/Kameng, Gongri for 90 MW at Kameng) have received the final Environment Clearance in the bio-diversity hotspot region,” Mr Das pointed out.


He however argued that the environment impact assessment process, based on which the clearances are given, are inferior and misleading. Moreover the cumulative environment impact assessment is not done in-spite of the fact that the basins of each major river would have multiple projects. Similarly, the adequate study on downstream impacts is ignored jeopardizing ecosystems, lives and livelihoods, he added. Moderated by Himanshu Thakkar of South Asia Network on Dams, River & People, the session was also addressed by Chandra Bhushan of CSE, Bimal Bhai from Matu Jan Sangathan with many others.

Add new comment

Random Stories

Street play on awareness of drugs abusive

27 Oct 2019 - 1:11pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
KOKRAJHAR: A street play on drugs abusive was performed highlighting effects of at Balajan Tinali Bazar, Kokrajhar on Friday to create awareness on drugs and alcohol use amongst the peoples. The...

Paralyzing bandh

6 Feb 2014 - 3:43pm | AT News
Normal life came to a grinding halt in parts of lower Assam following the KLO-sponsored bandh called in protest against the killing of Brindabon Rajbanshi in fake encounter.    Vital...

Institution of Assam scholarship at the US University welcomed

14 Oct 2009 - 1:26am | Jayanta Kumar Das
The institution of an academic scholarship, named Assam Scholarship, for the undergraduate students studying Economics or International Business at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in Huntsville,...

Tribal organisation oppose ST status to six communities

5 Mar 2016 - 4:29pm | Hantigiri Narzary
The United Tribal Organisation,Assam has warned to move to Supreme Court if the BJP led NDA government grants Scheduled Tribe(ST) status to the six ethnic communities of Assam.  Speaking the...

Other Contents by Author

Stage set for charity soccer

The city based media persons and performing artistes have prepared for a friendly football match to generate funds for the flood affected families of Assam. The charity soccer match, scheduled for Saturday (26 September 2015) at Nehru Stadium, Ulubari, Guwahati, will kick off at 6 in the evening.Senior journalist Pranay Bordoloi will lead the Media XI, where as popular singer Zubeen Garg will be the captain of the Artistes Eleven. The media team also comprises Atanu Bhuyan (VC & Goal Keeper), Piter Alex (VC), Kishor Talukder (GK), Debashis Mandal, Niloy Bhattacharya, Amarendra Deka, Sunil Bora, Dasarath Deka, Pitambar Newar, Banajit Bhuyan, Naba Pegu, Dhruba Mahanta, Gautam Sarma,...

Charity football for flood victims

The performing artistes and media persons of Assam will play a friendly football match to generate funds for the flood affected families of the State. The charity match, scheduled for next Saturday (26 September 2015) at Nehru Stadium Guwahati and starting at 6 pm, will be played between Artistes Eleven and Media Eleven.Glorious singer Zubeen Garg will be the captain of the Artistes XI comprising of Partha Pratim Goswami, Pradhan Deori, Sasanka Samir, Mahadev Deka, Shekhar Goswami, Achinta Shankar, Pabitra Rabha, Rohit Sonar, Hemanta Gogoi, Shiddharth Sarma, Bhaskar Dutta, Hitesh Gogoi, Manash Phukan, Dhanjeet Kalita and Bhabesh.On the other hand, senior journalist Pranay Bordoloi will lead...

Journalist Hiten Mahanta dead

Senior journalist Hiten Mahanta passed away on Saturday at GNRC (six mile) hospital. The end came at 7.25 in the morning at GNRC Hospital where he was undergoing treatment.Mahanta suffered multiple head injuries as he fell on the road on the morning hours of August 5 at his home locality of Chunchali in the city. He was immediately admitted to the hospital and his condition continued to be critical.Born in 1957, Mahanta completed his education in Guwahati. After completing PU form Cotton College, Mahanta graduated from Pragjyotish College. He received master degree in Political Science from Gauhati University.Lately contributing articles on recent political developments for Assam for...

Journalist Hiten Mahanta passes away

Senior journalist Hiten Mahanta paased away on Saturday at GNRC (six mile) hospital. He was admitted to the hospital on August 5 and continued to be critical. His last came on 7.30 am of 29 August 2015. Mahanta left behind his wife, two sons and host of relative & well-wishers.Media pepole acrsos the state deeply mourned his premature death and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.   

Friendly football match on I-Day

On the occasion of 69th I-Day, the members of Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) played a friendly football match with the employees of District Transport Office (Kamrup-M) on Saturday at Nehru Stadium. Led by Khirod Das, the DTO eleven beat EMFA eleven by two goals scored by Simanta Neog and Kanai Mahanta. The EMFA team captain Peter Alex was adjudged as the best player of the match and he was awarded by Kamrup DTO Gautam Das.Well-known football coach Hem Das conducted the game, where the city based Dispur Hospitals extended emergency medical supports to the players. Senior journalist and EMFA members Pranay Bordoloi, Nava Thakuria, Bhaskarjyoti Bhuyan, Bimal Ghosh with Dr Dhruba Saikia,...

Human becomes stranger in his own world

The human beings have created a new world for their comfort, but at the end of the day they become stranger to their own world, said eminent Gandhian Salem Nanjundaiah Subba Rao while interacting with the media persons at Guwahati Press Club on Sunday. A fellow of Gandhi Peace Foundation and founder of National Youth Project, Dr Rao also added that the modern science can provide one the material wealth & comfort but it cannot teach you to be an honest individual. Known for his mission to uplift the spirit of youths across the world for building a new society based on love, peace, harmony and social justice, the nonagenarian urged the young generation to devote more time for the entire...

Concern expressed over Focus NE’s closure

Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) has expressed concerns over the official closure of  Focus NE (formerly NE TV), which was launched in March 2004, and urged the management to compensate its employees according to the existing laws.Identified as the first satellite news channel of northeast India, which once beamed news bulletins in over 16 recognized languages and also dialects for the benefit of 50 million populace of the region, was reportedly owned by Congress stalwart Naveen Jindal, the former Parliamentarian from Kurukshetra (Haryana). The chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd lastly got the ownership of the vibrant channel from another Congress veteran, Matang Sinh, who was...

Blood donation camp begins at GMCH

A week long blood donation camp begins at Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH), Guwahati-32 today (8 May 2015). Initiated by the office of GMCH Superintendent, the camp is open for every conscious and responsible citizens. Various civil society and other organizations have been invited to join and donate blood in the camp (till 14 May) during the working hours.Media persons are also requested to attend the program and join in the mission to make the common people aware of the importance of blood domination. Interested journalists and other media employees across the region are requested to contact GMCH Superintendent Dr Ramen Talukder (Ph. 0361 2529457) for more details.

Blood donation camp at GMCH

A week long blood donation camp has been organized at Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) in Bhangagarh, Guwahati-32 from Friday. Initiated by the office of GMCH  superintendent, the camp is open for every conscious and responsible citizens of Assam. Various civil society and other organizations have been invited to join and donate blood in the  camp (8 May to 14 May 2015) during the working hours.Media persons are also requested to attend the program and join in the mission to make the common people aware of the importance of blood domination.Interested journalists and other media employees across the State are requested to contact Dr Ramen Talukder, the superintendent of...

JFA lauds SC push for media employees

Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) appreciates the initiatives taken by the apex court of the country for providing due benefits to the media employees belonged to all newspapers & news-agencies under the recommendations of Justice GR Majithia Wage Board.In its latest direction, the Supreme Court (of India) on 28 April 2015 asked all State governments ‘to appoint an officer within four weeks to conduct a survey on the implementation of Majitha Wage Board Award’. The apex court also directed the governments to submit a report in this respect within three months.The JFA has urged Assam government to act sincerely on the matter and help thousands of media employees of the State to get their...