Noted environmentalist Medha Patkar on Wednesday opposed construction of big dams in the North East to save the region from complete destruction. Addressing a huge rally in Guwahati, organised under the aegis of the Kisan Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), she said the rivers must be saved at any cost.
She said the government divided people on the lines of caste and religion but now they are taking the name of development.
According to Patkar, "People want development of rivers, power, aquatic life and people of living on river banks and not just of corporate houses and a section of politicians."
The construction of dams involved scams amounting to several thousands of crore and some corporate houses and politicians were allegedly involved in this, she claimed.
She appreciated KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi for organising the rally and giving a voice to the farmers who would be the worst affected if dams are constructed on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
Patkar, later, fell ill and was rushed to a hospital, while leading a protest march from the Sonaram Field to the Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner's office but her condition was stated to be stable.
Meanwhile, tense situation prevailed near the Deputy Commissioner's Office when more than five thousand protestors gathered to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner. The district authorities declared the gathering illegal and asked the crowd to disperse within ten minutes. Akhil Gogoi pointed out that they had applied for necessary permission for holding a dharna at the Dispur Last Gate but was denied following they had sought permission for holding a rally at Sonaram Field and a protest march which was subsequently granted.
PermalinkSubmitted by kkp on Fri, 23/07/2010 - 20:24
@Rongmon Pegu: may be there are less money involves in wind and solar energy than in river and dam to fill the butty of our politicians and corporate houses and dalals.
PermalinkSubmitted by Himadree Buragohian on Fri, 30/07/2010 - 16:37
It is really appreciating for renowned environmentalist Medha Patkar and KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi to come out and protest for the greater welfare of the general masses who are a neglected lot by the Govt as their cries carry no meaning for the politicians and the bureaucrats.Kudos to such leaders pleading for the poor citizens.
PermalinkSubmitted by Molokhu on Sun, 08/08/2010 - 16:11
IN THE NAME OF 'USER RIGHT'
I read the news story “Chinese move on Brahmaputra: Govt action plan on user right”, reported by noted journalist Kalyan Barooah from New Delhi (‘The Assam Tribune’, Page 1; Saturday, July 24, 2010). While being in the Indian Union any small entity, be it a state, a group of people have to be vigilant against powerful forces which influence policy makers and decision takers. Unlike the fringe territories, the central mainland has a huge homogenous population, where from springs a powerful lobby which exhorts power overtly in politics and covertly in economic matters. The scene hasn’t changed much down the centuries.
When Buddhism was gaining popularity in India, the Brahmans came up with an interesting idea to retain power in the socio-economic-political and religious spheres. Gautam Buddha was shown as the ninth avatar of the Hindu mythical god of protection, Vishnu. By inducting such a tricky clause in the Purans and related religious scriptures, the identity of Buddhism as an independent religion was destroyed. Slowly Buddhism lost its grip in ancient India. Persons who constitute different policy making structures like the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) are the neo-Brahmins of modern India.
At a time when anti-dam agitation is taking the form of a mass movement, the CoS has come up with a strategy of major storage project in the three basins (which includes Subansiri, Siang and Lohit) under the disguise of a concept aptly named ‘User Right’. Whether China wants to dam or divert the Brahmaputra is not known. Whether China will or can divert the Brahmaputra is not known. Whether the story of a dam to divert the river by China is a propaganda by a section of Indian media in connivance with the Central and Corporate lobby is not known. But that the Central Governement is hand in gloves with giant corporations to exploit the hydro-power of north-eastern states is an open secret now. These power groups with an eye on profits worth billions and trillions would never sit idle over a so called storage project. Any conscious and thinking person would know what the storehouse would hold for power generators and the massive devastation that a minimal gush of water from such projects can cause downstream.
In the name of major storage project alias ‘User Right’, now India and its corporate masterminds will generate power even more than the stipulated 70,000 MWs to feed its evergrowing greed. In the national forum, mega dams are projected as ‘multi-purpose hydro-projects’. In the international forum, major storage projects will be showcased in the name of ‘User Right’ of India. It’s the formula of “Old wine in New bottle”, to fool north-eastern states and the world.
A girl sustained bullet injured in yet another shoot out that rocked Guwahati on Tuesday. The incident took place in Rupnagar area at around 1/30 noon. Barasha Talukdar received injury when a mysterious bullet left her injured when she was working in the kitchen. She was rushed to the hospital and her condition is said to be safe. Police officials rushed to the spot and investigation is on. The incident took place hardly 24 hours after the Kumarpara shoot out where a businessman was injured on Monday night.
The toll in the venomous spider attack has gone to two in Assam where around 12 people are still undergoing treatment. The victims often complain of painful swelling. Both the victims hailed from Tinsukia district. But there is no confirmation. According to the district administration, the victims were cremated before autopsies could be done. Seven other victims have been treated with antibiotics against infection after they also tried to drain their wounds.
The spiders were first noticed about a month ago across Tinsukia district's grassy plains and dense jungle forests north of the Brahmaputra River. Meanwhile, villagers are keeping lamps on at night and standing guard against spiders...
It was a unique way to take pride in and take a vow to protect the rich bio-resources of Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the occasion of World Environment Day.A section of young enthusiastic nature and wildlife lovers from across the state today ran for the GREEN cause of conservation and celebration of the treasure trove of Kaziranga National Park, the famous abode of on horned rhinoceros and a tiger reserve taking part in the Green Marathon organised along a portion the National Highway 37 that flanks southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park (KNP).Total 179 persons took part in the Green Marathon that was flagged off by State Minister for Environment and...
The Guwahati Medical College Hospital buys bad name once again . Yet another incident rocked country’s premier hospital on the boil. A tragic incident erupted in the GMCH premises on Sunday following the tragic death of a baby. The baby died after it fell from the lap of its grandmother who was assaulted by a security personnel who was mercilessly beaten up. GMCH authorities have announced a probe into the incident. This was the second child to Deepali Rashbangshi, who lost her husband just six months back.
Seven months passed since Dr Bhupen Hazarika died. But his fans set a world record in Guwhati when thousands of guitarists together played his evergreen music Bistirno Parore at the packed Sarusajai stadium on Sunday afternoon. Organized by Now, Hope — a Guwahati-based event management company, the function was attended by several noted singers who appreciated the venture. They include singers Sudakhina Sarma, JP Das, Samar Hazarika, Monjyotsna Mahanta. It breaks the world record set in Shillong in 2007 where 1733 guitarists performed together. The formal announcement would be made on June 30.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday visited the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and got wind of the latest developments in the food technology field.
Gogoi, who arrived at the CFTRI campus in Yadavagiri, was welcomed by CFTRI Acting Director Dr.G. Venkateswara Rao, who apprised Gogoi of the use of buffalo milk in making milk powder since it has higher percentage of fat and about the research on adding natural colours to food items instead of the conventional synthetic colours.Gogoi later took a look at the dosa and idli making machines developed by CFTRI — the institute's pride. This is the third visit of Gogoi to the CFTRI, the first occasion being when...
Criminal Investigation Department is intensifying its probe into the sensational Gadapani Pathak case where the agriculture department superintending engineer was killed after he was kidnapped at gunpoint. CID sleuths continue to grill Faizul Islam for third consecutive days after he was released from a private nursing home in Bongaigaon. Islam, an engineer who had accompanied the slain engineer Godapani Pathak to Dhubri, is set to be quizzed further in this connection. Islam, who was rescued after 25 days of abduction, had accompanied Godapani Pathak, a senior engineer of state agriculture department, whose bullet-ridden body was found on May 3 last in Bongaigaion to Dhubri. CID found...
One person was killed and four others were injured in a road mishap in Goalpara district on Sunday morning.The tragic incident struck at Dhanubhanga area near Dudhnoi when a passenger bus hit a Tata Indica car . One died on the spot and four other occupants of the car were injured. He was identified as Binoy Kumar Prasad. The injured were rushed to the hospital.
Guwahati is not safe at all even in morning walk. Unidentified miscreants snatched a gold chain from an aged woman who happens to be the mother Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Kahilipara on Sunday. According to police, the incident took place when Mrinalini Devi, was on her way for morning walk at around 7 am when two miscreants in a bike stopped near her. The miscreants snatched the gold chain which she was wearing in her neck. An FIR has been lodged in the Dispur police station and efforts are on to nab the culprits.
Police in Guwahati arrested six people linked to Garo National Liberation Army on Saturday and seized huge ache of arms and ammunition from their possession. The consignment, including rocket launchers, shells and pistols and barrets were found from Gorchuk area of Guwahati. The consignment was intercepted on its way to GNLA camps in Garo Hills in Meghalaya through Goalpara in Assam.
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