****They said in their concensus that large dams 'can only built inthe absence of better, ecologically sustainable and non-destructiveviable alternatives'. But for that too, they said, construction ofsuch dams should be done in full compliance with the criteria andguidelines of the World Commission on Dams and other national andinternational legal, human rights and environmental framework andobligations. They also demanded decommissioning of those dams, whichproved damaging.*** --AssamTribune C'da, It looks like these people oppose RL on ecological grounds, and wouldbe agreeable to building dams if it meets the World Comm. on Damsguidelines. That does not seem to be a bit different from yourconcerns, ie. RL would deplete water resources from Assam? Anyway just thought this may be of interest to you. --Ram_____________________________________Call to shelve project on interlinking of riversFrom Ajit Patowary NIRJULI (Arunachal Pradesh), June 16 – The four-day Third South AsianForum on Rivers and Peoples of the South Asian Solidarity for Riversand Peoples (SARP) which connected here today demanded 'immediate andtotal cancellation' of Indian project for interlinking of rivers. Thedemand has been raised in the light of the revelation in the IndianParliament that the report of the National Commission for Waterresource Development deemed the paninsular component unnecessary andHimalayan component as not feasible because of adverse environmentalimpact, said the SARP delegates in their consensus. About 150 delegates from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar,Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and Argentina, who took part inthe deliberations of the meeting for the past four days, were alsounanimous in their opposition to mega dams and described suchstructures as 'vicious large dams'. They said in their concensus that large dams 'can only built in theabsence of better, ecologically sustainable and non-destructive viablealternatives'. But for that too, they said, construction of such damsshould be done in full compliance with the criteria and guidelines ofthe World Commission on Dams and other national and internationallegal, human rights and environmental framework and obligations. Theyalso demanded decommissioning of those dams, which proved damaging. While calling for a change in the development paradigm that is beingpursued in South Asia for its intensifying flood and relatedcatastrophies, the delegates of the forum also laid stress on in apositive change in the attitude towards the fresh water bodies. Theyalso called for collective participation of the indigenous and localpeoples in the nourishment and long-term protection of wetlands. The SARP delegates also opposed all moves to privatise water andrivers, saying – 'Water is a basic human right'. They also demanded urgent formulation of a Himalayan policy by thecountries concerned to save the mountain and its environment from anyfurther damage caused to them by industrial developments. The delegates also extended their whole-hearted support to theindigenous peoples' and local communities of the NE region of India intheir fight against 'exploitation, human rights violations andsubjugation of their dignity, pride and honour to live in theirage-old native habitat and to safeguard their rich heritage,bio-diversity and natural resources from devastation being caused inthe name of economic development'. They demanded that the projects involving commercial exploitation ofnatural resources in the indigenous peoples' territories and localcommunities' vicinities follow a free, prior and informed consentpractice making it a mandatory provision to provide free space tothese peoples and communities to make their decisions freely. Besides, the demand for a South Asia regional Framework Treaty ontrans-boundary rivers and their management for regional peace andprosperity has also been raised by the forum. The forum in twoseparate resolutions demanded measures to install democratic policy inBhutan and Nepal. _______________________________________________ Assam mailing list [email protected] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam
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