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.
Normal life in Guwahati was thrown out of gear as it was lashed by heavy rainfall. Several vital points in the city are under waist deep water bringing traffic to a standstill and stranding commuters. The worst affected areas are RGB Road, GS Road and Zoo Road which have been completely submerged.
Assam is in the fresh grip of flood wave triggered by heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of river Brahmaputra. Rain waters have wreaked havoc in seven districts. According to information, rainfall in the catchment areas of the Brahmaputra, has resulted in alarming rise in water level. There was, however, no report of any loss of lives so far.Huge areas of human habitation and cropland in Baksa, Barpeta, Kamrup, Nalbari, Dhemaji, Sonitpur and Sibsagar districts have been submerged and nearly 150 villages with a population of nearly two lakh were affected. The government has opened 15 relief camps in Baksar, Goalpara, Kamrup and Nalbari districts which are housing more than 50,000 people...
BJP is preparing to put the UPA government in a fix over the strings of ethnic clash in BTAD areas when parliament will resume its session on Wednesday. The party’s executive committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the strategy.
Disclosing this BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters that BJP will be raising issues of general public concern such as the communal violence in Assam. He said the party has decided to raise Assam clashes on the very first day of the session, contending the violence has not stopped as yet.Same it was what Sushma Swaraj said before the reporters in Delhi.
The Centre on Monday blamed external elements in the ethnic clashes in BTAD areas and Dhubri areas where almost 60 were killed. Dispur is also likely to hand over the probe into the recent violence to CBI. Talking to reporters in New Delhi Union home secretary RK Singh said that the situation is under control as of now. There could be some external elements behind the violence.
Singh had ruled out the possibility of involvement of anyone from across the border saying it was simply impossible for any organised group crossing over to India from across the border as the international border was sealed. He said that state and the Centre are determined that we will have this investigated and...
Refuges in Chirang alleged inadequate medical facilities in the camps. The medical teams find it quite difficult to move to the camps in the absence of security forces. CRPF jawans sprang upon a team of health workers in Bijni. On the other hand, so far 8 refugees died of various diseases. Indefinite curfew was reimposed in Chirang district where three bodies were recovered on Sunday. Night curfew was continuing in Kokrajhar, where two bodies were recovered, besides Baska and Dhubri districts.
Tension still grips BTAD areas. Dispur has set up 104 police pickets in Dhubri and BTAD areas. Security personnel start manning these violence-hit areas from Monday.A SSB team had a narrow escape on Sunday when unidentified miscreants opened indiscriminate firing in Amguri area in Bijni. On Monday miscreants set on fire a house in the area. Security forces have apprehended a former militant in this connection.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday reviewed the relief measures in BTAD areas and Dhubri district where 60people were killed. Gogoi directed the senior officials to carry out relief and rehabilitation measures on a war footing. He said that the topmost priority was relief and rehabilitation measures and all our energies should be channelized towards it. He asked the additional Chief Secretary to instruct the Deputy Commissioners of the affected districts to decongest the camps immediately and to open up new camps so that there is no major outbreak of diseases.
Gogoi further instructed the PHE Secretary to construct latrines and to install water pumps in and around the relief camps in a...
Two hardcore Ulfa militants were shot dead during an encounter with police in Goalpara district on Sunday. The encounter took place at 8-30 in the evening at an inaccessible area in Rongjuli. Acting on a tip off, a team of police from Guwahati launched an operation where the heavy gunbattle took place. The Ulfa duo died on the spot. Identified as Ratul Asom and Raghu Asom, the duo was allegedly involved in the recent attack on army in Goalpara where a jawan died and 4 others have been injured.
Identified as Ratul Asom and Raghu Asom, the duo was allegedly involved in the recent attack on army in Goalpara where a jawan died.
The Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) has welcome the gesture of Satyam Foundation to offer Rs 51,000 as financial assistance for the treatment of Lalit Sarma, a Guwahati based television reporter. The EMFA also thanks Bhaskar Dev Konwar, a city based advocate, for offering Rs 11,000 for his treatment.
Sarma, a crime reporter of DY365 is suffering from the ailment of partial paralysis for some weeks and he needs urgent treatment outside Assam. He is planning to visit Kerala for undergoing treatment with traditional medicine there.
Mentionable is that Satyam Foundation, a Guwahati based welfare institution comprising some prominent cultural personalities of Assam, had honoured over 20...
Three persons have been injured when a powerful bomb exploded in Goreswar on Sunday. It took place at around 4-30 and bomb was planted on a tree which exploded at a village beside the Rangia-Goreswar Road. The bomb exploded with a huge sound when one of the trio tried to switch on a radio after he came to see it on a tree. The injured have been rushed to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital after preliminary treatment at the Goreswar Hospital.
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