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.
The ceasefire between UPDS and government has been extended for yet another term of six months. The truce pact extension came up a day after the Karbi militant outfit seeking it on condition that there must be sitting between the two sides in a period of three months. A day after it had expressed willingness, the centre responded and extended truce for another 6 month period. Notably, the ceasefire term ended on January 31, 2007. Both the sides came forward to renew the pact and instead the militant cadres went underground. But of late, the outfit operating in Karbi hills wrote it to the Union home ministry and the Assam police wishing the extension of the pact.
An uneasy situation is prevailing in Tinsukia district’s Kakopathar area following the killing of three people in two separate incidents by suspected ULFA militants. According to information, some five suspected ULFA militants arrived in the site of Bhaona in Sarumethai village under kakopathar police station at around 6 in the evening. Then they went inside the green room and pumped several rounds of bullets on one Pradip Hazarika who were getting busy with preparation for his role. They further beat up another youth Jiten Changmai. Later in yet another incident near the village Bormethai village, some other suspected ULFA militants gunned down another youth Bharen Mora, an OB...
Three KLNLF extremists including its area commander Makrang Dingklu were killed during an encounter with the Army early in the morning on Friday in Kamalabheti along the Nagaon-Karbi Anglong border. According to information, the Army’s massive operation is still going on in the area. Later a huge cache of arms and ammunition have been recovered from the encounter site. These include two AK056 rifles, 4 guns, 6 magazines, 177 live bullets. Details are awaited.
Police have destroyed opium cultivation at a plot of 12 bighas in Ganakguri gaoan in Sorbhog and arrested the landlord Gajen Das on Thursday. According to information, acting on a tip off, a police team led by Officer in charge of Barpeta Road police station Purna Baruah, Barnagar Circle officer Biraj Saudcircle inspector A Ahmed with a few excise department officials saw a plot measuring 12 bigha with opium crop on it. The plot was owned by one Gajen Das. They have destroyed the entire plot during the operation. According to landlord Gajen Das he did not know there his plot was used for opium cultivation. His son allowed a few people utlise the plot. He is now at large.
498th Birthday of Mahabir Chilarai is being organized by Assam Government, All Assam Koch Rajbonshi Sanmilani in association with Guwahati Metro administration at Amingaon near Guwahatti on 21-02-08. Pix by UB Photos.
Dr. Suraj Singh Baghl, Vice Chancellor Assam Agricultural University along with AASU Adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya seen collecting its first consignment of potatoes produced jointly by AASU and Asom Unnati Sabha at Barpeta on 21-02-08. This cultivation is being done on a land of 5000 bighas. Pix by UB Photos.
The fears of kala azars that gripped the people across the state have been allayed by the Guwhati Medical College Hospital authorities on Thursday. According ton information, the confirmation was followed by the report of testconducted on eleven people which have proved negative. These people have been rushed to the Guwahti medical College Hospital very recently. The doctors feared it to the case of kala azars in view of the symptoms which has clear resemblance of this fata disease. These people who have been rushed to the hoispital including two children from Panikhaity area in the outskirt of the city. All but a woman patient have fled from the hospital whil they were undergoing treatment...
The opposition Asom Gana Parishad has started it hectic political confabulations to ensure its candidate in the upcoming Rajya Sabha election in March. But this time rift within the party heavyweights are set to be widen. The regional party has several faces this time emerging as aspirants for the Rajya sabha. Even the name of the party president Brindabon Goswami is also coming up. Others include Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee and Quin Oja, Durgadas Boro, Hiten Goswami, Atul Bora, Hiranya Konwar, Prabin Boro,. It party high command will almost find it difficult to sort out a name of these aspirants. The opposition party is pins hope on one of these seats which will be falling vacant following...
As many as eleven people from Panikhaity area in the outskirt of the city have been admitted to the Guwahati Medical College following some complaints resembling to kala azar. But the medical authority have yet to confirm it saying kala azar could be confirmed only after the necessary test. But his has forced the authority to sound alert in view of these chronic and potentially fatal parasitic diseases. The GMCH authorities have said they have been conducting tests but the results have yet to come. The state health department is set to sent instructions to all district administrations to deal with the situation firmly.
The arrest of Lachit Bordoloi charging him with ULFA’s bid to hijack an IA plane has mired in controversy with the arrested ULFA cadre Manoj Tamuly on Wednesday declaring that Lachit Bordoloi is not to him. Speaking to reporters at the Kamrup district session court premises on Wednesday the ULFA cadre further disclosed that Nekibur Zaman is also not known to him. This remains a widespread controversy as police have said the PCG member has been arrested on the basis of the confessional statement of Manoj Tamuly. On the other hand, the Air Deccan employee who was accusing of the plane hijack bid earlier said he was not known to manoj Tamuly and Lachit Bordoloi.
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