Development / Assam

GUWAHATI, Nov 22 - The Union Environment and Forest Ministry has approved the 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power project under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act. The project is being implemented by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

The Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department and the Assam Forest Department had earlier sought prior approval of the Central Government under Section-2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of 3999.30 hectares of forest land (3183.00 hectares in Arunachal Pradesh and 816.30...

SHILLONG, Aug 23 ? Social activists in the North East are up in arms against the construction of mega dams in the region claiming it would bring ?untold suffering and land alienation among the indigenous poeple,? reports PTI. The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), a forum of people movements, NGOs, professional associations and leading citizens here said that the respective governments proposed to construct 168 large hydro-electric projects in the region and 28 of them were at the implementation stage and some others were also being developed.

Talking to media after its three...

GUWAHATI, June 29 – Unofficial sources claim that there are indications of presence of arsenic in the ground water of Mankachar areas bordering Bangladesh in Dhubri district. Samples of the ground water from some suspected areas were sent for testing to Jadavpur University early this year. But, sources in the State PHED have denied having any knowledge of the development. As, they claimed, the Kolkata-based University had not sent any formal report so far on its findings.

The university has also not made any formal communication on its findings on the Dhemaji and Karimganj water samples, said...

GUWAHATI, June 29 – The current wave of flood has affected 1,014 villages in thirteen districts of the State. It has also damaged standing crop of 22,502 hectares of paddy field and affected a population to the size of 8,63,445. So far, it has claimed five lives, said an official flood bulletin here this evening. The districts affected by the flood this time are Kamrup, Nalbari, Barpeta, Morigaon, Darrang, Sonitpur, Goalpara, Dhubri, North Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Bongaigaon, Hailakandi and Karimganj, said the bulletin.

There is a general improvement in the situation in the Brahmaputra valley with...

GUWAHATI, June 28 – The Committee on Environmental Implications associated with the BG railway alignment through the Deepar Beel area, recommended that the existing natural passes of wild animals, including the elephants, should be protected. If it is deemed necessary, the recommendations said that additional high passes might be provided for the purpose. The Committee constituted by the State Government to examine the matter had submitted its report in July 1990.

One of the observations of the Committee was that the railway tract would cause some amount of disturbance to the wildlife in the...

GUWAHATI, June 27 – Floods have caused considerable damage in various parts of the State, and with the rainy season yet to reach its peak, there are fears that large tracts of cropland as well as settlements, and natural habitat are in a perilous situation. Reports coming in from different areas suggest that the lack of proper embankments, drainage system, and poor condition of infrastructure – roads and bridges in particular, have created a scenario where flood would cause widespread damage to life and property. People in those areas, which for a long time have experienced the fury of floods...

GUWAHATI, June 24 – The State Government has teamed up with the Meghalaya Government to solve the problems of erosion and flash flood caused by the Basistha-Bahini river in the city. As a result, an inter-State committee with the officials of the Forest, Soil Conservation and Public Works Departments of the two States has been formed and the State Soil Conservation Department has been working on two projects involving the river in the city areas.

Disclosing these, J Malakar, Divisional Officer of the South Bank Soil Conservation Division, Guwahati told media men today that 80 per cent of the...

GUWAHATI, June 24 – The State is experiencing the first wave of flood this year with many of the rivers inundating several areas. Army personnel have been engaged in providing relief to the flood affected people in Goreswar areas of Kamrup district. Floodwaters had reportedly washed away a 7 year-old boy in the Goreswar areas yesterday.

The Brahmaputra was rising throughout its course between Tezpur and Dhubri this afternoon and according to the Central Water Commission (CWC) sources here, this evening, the river would continue to rise between Tezpur and Dhubri during the next 24 hours since...

GUWAHATI, June 23 – Following the tragic death of three elephants after being run over by a goods train, senior forest department and N F Railway officials today participated in a joint meeting to review the situation around railway tracks close to forest tracts.

The meeting convened by Conservator of Forests, Central Assam Circle R D S Tanwar, discussed preventive measures that could help stop trains coming into close proximity of elephants. In the meeting, the railway officials agreed to suitably regulate speeds of trains traversing through elephant habitats.

The meeting also helped...

Guwahati, June 22: After ignoring appeals from wildlife enthusiasts and NGOs for years, a jolted Assam forest department today urged the railways to impose speed limits in areas where rail tracks pass through animal corridors. The forest department’s appeal came a day after three elephants — an adult and two calves — were mowed down by a speeding goods train near Deepor Beel, raising the hackles of conservationists who blamed both the department and railways for the tragedy.

The Wildlife Protection Society of India, one of the premier agencies working in the field of conservation, termed the...