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Concern over indiscriminate dam construction in NE
2004-08-24
NORTH EAST TIMES
Shillong, Aug 23 (UNI): Environmental and social activists fighting against indiscriminate construction of dams in the north-eastern region have expressed concern at the state governments’ turning a blind eye to the people’s sufferings and imbalance in ecology.
A three-day meeting on the topic of "second consultation on dams in the north-east" organised by the Manipur-based Citizen’s Concern for Dams and Development concluded here yesterday.
The speakers alleged that the state governments in the region were in ‘connivance’ with corporate houses dealing in power generation without considering the people’s problems.
The participants did not mince words to say the state governments were also hand-in-glove with the implementation agencies of hydro-electricity projects in the region like the Hational Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC) and North East Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO).
The sub-title of the meeting, called "understanding dams proliferation in north-east india", remained the main theme of the meet that did not hesitate to hold funding institutions, comprising multinational companies and even the world bank, for the dams coming up in the region.
Delhi-based activist Dr Smitu Kothari, who has an international reputation as an expert in environment protection, opined that dams being constructed in north-east india were all based on "lies" due to absence of required data and other information.
"Dams are being built on foundation of lies in this country," Dr Kothari said adding critical information and data were kept aside and even manipulated. Dams have become a serious problem in this country, creating irreversible damage to the eco-system, the activist said.
A participant from Arunachal Pradesh said the NHPC, that is carrying out work in that state, could allgedly manage to rope in the united liberation front of assam militants to force locals to accept dams.
The union government has identified 168 sites in the north-east as potential sites for dams that is expected to produce electricity through hydel system. The speakers were concerned at the fact that plight of the affected indigenous people was yet to be gauged by the state government.
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