Skip to content Skip to navigation

Honour rights in extraction activities

Extraction of natural resources would ensure sustainable development if the local communities are taken into confidence. Without considering the rights of the indigenous people and the impending impact on the bio diversity of an area, extraction turns into exploitation of natural resources. This was more or less of what the experts feel while they rubbed shoulders at a consultation in New Delhi on Thursday.

Jointly organised by Coalition on Enviroonment  and Natural Resources and the Indraprastha Public Affairs Centre, the Consultation on mining (oil, gas and natural resources) in north-east and its economic and environmental impacts with a particular focus on gender inclusive sustainable development approach ironed out a slew of suggestions for the extractive companies and the government.

In his address, environment expert and head of environment with the Directorate General Hydrocarbons Kuldip Sharma  said that sustainable development as well as extraction should be allowed to go on. He said the government is taking all necessary steps including prior studies of affected areas before giving extraction permission to companies.

President of CORE Manipur Dr Debabrata Roy Laifungbam in his speech outlined the permission to Netherland based company Jubilant Energy back in 1995 to for oil extraction in Manipur. He said that local people were not taken into confidence who came to know it only when the company came to carry out seismic work, drill exploratorations and construction work in the project site. The

Another expert Rajesh Singh Sisodia highlighted the wrongdoing on mining industries, bad-governance in the extractive areas of Chhattisgarh towards affected communities.

Human rights activist Babloo Loitingbam said that idea of multiple stake holder coming together – government, academics, civil societies etc. is ok. He opined that humanizing the corporate and the state machineries is the more urgent need. 

The focus of attraction was the overview of the extractive resources in the region and the associated industries critically presented by Dr Subrata Gogoi who is the senior professor and head of Dibrugarh University’s Petroleum Technology Department.

 

The consultation aimed at providing a platform for direct interaction between the policy makers and the civil society from the region. It further had an objective to formulate and develop policies based primarily on a “Gender Inclusive – Sustainable Development” approach to the process of economic development in the region.

This Consultation included discussions and sharing of perspectives by all stakeholders to the extractives reliant economic development process in the North-East: policy makers, investors in the region, civil society representatives from the region and experts on environment, sustainable development and gender in extractives sector.

The outcomes would inform the policy of the Centre in its efforts at increased and continued economic exploitation of the economic resources in the North-EAST and in formulating the pending legislative enactments on mining and extraction in the country.

Author info

AT News's picture

Assam Times Staff. editor@assamtimes.org

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

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

Random Stories

Supriya Gogoi to play in National Women's Kho Kho team

23 Jan 2016 - 7:58pm | Kaushik Deka
The Indian Women Kho Kho Team was announced in January 22, 2016 for the upcoming 12th South Asian Games, 2016 to be held in Guwahati and Shillong from February 5-16. It carried some great news for...

NSLA cadre arrested

18 Apr 2016 - 8:35pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Security forces belonging to police and army, in a joint operation arrested a cadre of National Santhali Liberation Army (NSLA) from Kashiabari area in Kokrajhar district on Monday. The cadre was...

Karbi Youth Festiva starts from February 15

30 Jan 2010 - 7:30pm | Ranjan K Baruah
‘Karbi Youth Festival’, one of the largest ethnic festivals of the northeastern India is going to be held held at Taralangso in Diphu from February 15-20. The 36th Karbi Youth Festival, a...

Job aspirants in Demow..

17 Jul 2008 - 10:51pm | editor
Job aspirants waiting for the fitness test during a huge recruitment program organised by Indian Army at Demow rural stadium in Sivasagar, Assam on 17-07-2008. More than 3000 youths will be recruited...

Other Contents by Author

Guwahati, Oct. 29:  A wave of protest swept through Guwahati on Tuesday as concerned citizens gathered at Dighalipukhuri to oppose the felling of numerous ancient trees for the construction of a flyover connecting Noonmati and Dighalipukhuri. Protesters, united under the banner "Save Our Trees, Save Our Heritage," expressed deep concern over the potential environmental impact and loss of the city's natural beauty. They argued that the 200-year-old trees, vital to the ecosystem, act as natural air purifiers, reduce urban heat, and provide a sanctuary for migratory birds. Community leaders and environmental activists have pledged to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to halt...
KOKRAJHAR, OCT 28: A significant awareness program was organized on Monday at Jalah Girls’ High School in Baksa district, focusing on child protection mechanisms, human trafficking, and the safety and empowerment of women and children. The initiative was a joint effort by the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), the District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), and the ICDS project, Jalah, under the Women and Child Development (WCD) department. Dr. Lipika Barman, the District Child Protection Officer of Baksa (in-charge), presided over the event. Kalpana Das, CDPO of the ICDS Project, Jalah, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the...
Guwahati: The 8th Chalachitram National Film Festival – 2024 concluded at Jyoti Chitraban in Kahilipara, Guwahati, on October 27, celebrating diverse cinematic works. Jaswandha, directed by Shoneel Yallattikar, won the Best Film in the rest of India category, while A Sylvan Saga by Jyoti Prasad Das was awarded the Best Film in Northeast India. Das also took home the Best Director award, and Abhijit Nayak received the Best Screenplay award for Wrong Number, directed by Bijit Borgohain. Awards for Best Cinematography went to Angsuman Barua & Pradip Ch Sarma for Aadi Shakti Maa Kamakhya and Chida Bora & Saril Nandan Deka for Teens of 1942 (directed by Samiran Deka). The Best Editing...
Guwahati, 25 October 2024 – Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Guwahati Off-Campus celebrated its 11th Convocation for the graduating class of 2024 at the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre Auditorium, Guwahati. Distinguished guests included Chief Guest Prof. Gauri Dutt Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), TISS Chancellor Prof. D.P. Singh, and other dignitaries who gathered to commemorate the achievements of the graduates. The ceremony began with the lighting of the lamp, accompanied by Saraswati Vandana. In his welcome address, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Shankar Das congratulated the 165 graduates—five Ph.D. scholars, 112 postgraduates, and...
Guwahati: The annual Chalachitram National Film Festival will begin on Saturday in Guwahati, Assam. This year's festival, themed "Our Heritage, Our Pride," will showcase 50 documentary and short feature films.  The two-day event, organized by Chalachitram, a subsidiary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra Assam, aims to foster nationalism through film and pay tribute to India's rich heritage. The festival will be inaugurated at Jyoti Chitraban premises in Kahilipara on October 26. A variety of films from across India will be screened, covering topics such as land and people, tourism, arts, handicrafts, and social issues. The inaugural film will be "The Last Generation," directed by Prabal...
The prestigious Golok Samman for 2023 has been announced, honoring four distinguished young individuals for their exceptional contributions in the fields of art, translation, research, and environmental activism. The award, instituted by the UD Foundation in memory of the noted translator and social worker Golok Chandra Datta, celebrates those who have made significant cultural and social impacts in Assam. This year’s recipients are Dr. Sanjeev Bora, a renowned artist; Avantika Parashar, a noted translator; Rajesh Dattabaruah, an environmental activist; and Dr. Baburam Saikia, a Sattriya dancer and researcher. Recognizing Talent in Art and Visual Media Dr. Sanjeev Bora has been...
Join Our Dedicated Volunteer Team! Assam Times, a volunteer-run news platform established in 2007, is seeking talented individuals to join our team as English to Assamese volunteer translators. Are you: A native Assamese speaker with excellent fluency in written English? Passionate about accurate and culturally sensitive translations? Committed to delivering high-quality content for our readers? If so, we want to hear from you! Responsibilities: Translate a variety of news articles and content from English to Assamese, ensuring accuracy and clarity. Maintain a consistent and high-quality writing style for Assam Times. Meet deadlines and communicate...
Guwahati, September 18: Aaranyak, in partnership with the Namdapha Tiger Reserve Authority and supported by the Arcus Foundation, has initiated a groundbreaking Hoolock gibbon conservation education program in the fringe areas of Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh. This initiative, which commenced on August 22, is the first of its kind in the state and aims to create a community of young conservationists who can actively contribute to the protection of this endangered primate. The program has reached 17 schools in the Miao subdivision, covering students from upper primary to higher secondary levels. The sessions, conducted by the Primate Research and...
Diets rich in ultra-processed foods have long been associated with a myriad of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and even premature death. However, the vast category of ultra-processed foods encompasses a wide range of products, from seemingly benign options like whole-grain bread and plant-based milk to more obvious culprits like hot dogs and sugary sodas. A recent groundbreaking study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has shed new light on the specific types of ultra-processed foods that pose the greatest risk to heart health. This comprehensive study, published in The Lancet Regional Health-Americas, analyzed data...
Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its one-horned rhinoceros and diverse ecosystems, is at a critical crossroads. Known for its rich biodiversity and the harmonious coexistence of local communities with nature, Kaziranga's landscape and social fabric are under threat. The Assam government's push to boost tourism by transferring land adjacent to the park to private hospitality industries has sparked significant controversy, raising concerns over the rights of indigenous communities and the ecological future of the region. The Push for Luxury Tourism Today marks a significant step in the Assam government's tourism agenda, with the signing of another...