The endangered Mahseer fish and river dolphins may face grave danger from the proposed hydroelectric power projects, with a critical study of the Subansiri Sub Basin recommending development of an integrated biodiversity conservation plan. The two-volume report, released by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), was prepared by the Central Water Commission (CWC). Titled…
CSE Webinar CAN HISTORICAL INJUSTICE BE UNDONE? Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana & District Mineral Foundation How much welfare will be delivered to people in mining affected areas? 30th September , 3pm Following the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address, in which he described the under-development of mining areas as an issue of grave concern,…
India is in reeling under the impact of one of its worst dry spells in recent times. A series of reports by Down to Earth show the impact and the gravity of problem. According to an assessment made by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), 283 districts out of the total 640 in the country currently fall…
Amid simmering protest over the NDA government’s move for Indian citizenship to the non-Muslim intruders from Bangladesh and Pakistan, veteran journalist and north east expert Sanjay Hazarika said that it cannot be objected if there has been due process of law and adequate checking of individual cases before citizenship is granted. Talking to Assam Times…
For decades, the state of Assam in north eastern India has been grappling with insurgencies and ethnic clashes. The problems are aggravated by the bad infrastructure in the region. Many people live along the Brahmaputra River, on its many river islands that can only be reached by boats. Life is not easy for those living…
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth magazine invites photographers and photo-journalists to apply for a fellowship and a contest on the subject of 'climate change and vulnerable communities'. The fellowship is aimed at recording stories of people and places buffeted by changing climate and its accompanying extremes of weather; and of…
Academics, journalists and activists on Sunday (August 9, 2015) urged the people of several states come under India’s North East region for a better a prolong mechanism to work together to address various basic and long lasting issues and demands of people in the region. They were part of an interaction and a panel discussion…
The central government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah on Monday (August 3, 2015) signed a historic accord. The South Asia Monitor spoke to noted expert Prof. Sanjoy Hazarika and asked for his first thoughts about the Naga peace accord. http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=in&nid=12889
Every effort at resolving the Naga imbroglio has been embroiled in a challenging quagmire of unending and conflicting demands. While most commentaries on the recent consensual framework for a long-term agreement between the Centre and the NSCN(I-M) have focused on the here and now and sought to define the long road to peace, I will…
'To expect that these past decades of grief, inter-group killings, anxiety and fear will be brushed aside because of the Naga peace accord is being unrealistic. Memories are built on old wounds and they heal slowly. So, it is important to be cautiously optimistic,' says Sanjoy Hazarika. First of all, let us hail the peacemakers…