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 United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has accused the Government of shying away from peace talk saying it has become clear that the only government has been lacking interest and goodwill for a fruitful negotiation. In a statement, the chairman of the proscribed outfit Arbinda Rajkhowa said the door for political negotiation is still open.
Once again the NEEPCO is running into a rough weather. There is report that the Black Widow militants have demanded a Rs 1 crore ransom from the general manager of the power corporation. This has forced the authority to beef up security ring in the region. Notably, the militants have been striking the area. On February 11, they struck a convoy of Assam Police battalion while it was escorting the Kopili poject employees from the project site to the colony area. Four people including three security men dead in the attack. This has forced the closure of the Kopili power project. Very recently, the militants killed four employees of the Vinoj Cement factory by attacking two dumping trucks and...
Today is Bir Chilarai Day which is being observed across the state with a number of programmes. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is schedule to attend a public meeting being organized to mark the occasion in Amingaon based Chilarai Park. To be presided over All Asam Koch Rajbanshi Association Dr Durlabh Chamua, health and family welfare minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, transport minister Chandan Brahma with former minister Anjan Dutta will attend the meeting. Meanwhile, Bir Chilarai Award this year been announced to kargil Hero Zintu Gogoi.
Former Team India captain Saurav Ganguly and his successor Mahender Singh Dhoni will be seen in action when they will lead Bengal and Jharkhand respectively at the East Zone Ranji Trophy cicket championships slated for February 26 in Guwahati. According to Asam Cricket Association officials, apart from the home team, Orissa, Tripura will also join the battle for the Cup. Other cricketing stars include Randep Bose, SS Paul, Sunder das, Niranjan behera, Debashis Mohanty and Sadgopal Ramesh.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is leaving for Tripura on Wednesday to campaign for the upcoming Assembly polls slated for February 23. According to information, Mr Gogoi is schedule to address poll rally in Kailashnagar on Wednesday and will stay for the night. On Thursday, the Chief Minister will also campaign in Dharmanagar area before leaving back to Guwahati.
Union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi and Oscar Fernandage today had a narrow escaped from a major accident when their helicopter caught in bad weather while he was returning from North Tripura district after campaigning for Congress candidates with Prime Minister. His helicopter had to roam in the air for more then half an hour before the pilot managed to noseland in Agartala. In yet another incident, a helicopter in the same route also met the same fate in which union minister Oscar Fernandage was traveling with Assam Rajya Sabha MP Dijwen Sharma.
The police could not produce the arrested PCG member and MASS leader Lachit Bordoloi before the court as he has been rushed to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital following his ailment police on Tuesday failed to produce him before the Kamrup district judicial magistrate. The peace broker and human rights leader Lachit Bordoloi has been rushed to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital on Monday following complains of Melina, spondelities and piles. He was arrested by police on 11th of February charging with a bid to hijack an Indian Airlines plane with ULFA on the basis of the confessional statement of an arrested ULFA cadre Manoj Tamuly.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who also hold the finance portfolio, will table the state budget for 2008-2009 on the floor of the Assam Assembly session on March 10. According to information, the session will start on March 3 with the address of Assam Governor Lt General (retd) Ajoy Kumar Singh. The business advisory committee of the House will finalise the proceeding in its meeting on February 25.
The gun has yet to fall silent atop the North Cachar hills. In yet another strike, the Black Widow militants killed four people of the Vinoy Cement Factory on Tuesday in Umrangsu at a distance of more than 100 from Haflong. According to information, the strike took place at around 11 in the morning while the militants attacked two dumper cars at a distance of 5 kilometer away from the factory. Further, the militants set the two dumper cars ablaze. Notably, in its earlier attack, the militants killed four people including three security personnel while they attacked a convoy carrying Kopili power project officials to their colony campus. This has forced the employees of the NEEPCO-owned...
Normal life in the state has come to a grinding halt across the state due to the 12-hour Assam bandh on Tuesday. Called by the United Liberation Front of Asom, the bandh is by and large peaceful. There is no report of any incidents during this period. Schools, colleges, offices, business, financial and establishments are remaining closed. All sorts vehicles are remaining off from the streets. The city is remaining closed and calm. The bandh began at 5-30 in the morning to end at 5-30 in the evening. However, train and flight services are operating normally during the bandh hours. The bandh however, had no impact in North Cachar and Karbi Anglong districts. The ULFA called the bandh...
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