A day after Centre announced firming up of proposals to execute the proposed Siang (Upper) and (Lower) hydro power projects, the Forum for Siang Dialogue (FSD) opposed the projects citing submergence of thousands of hectares of land and threat to indigenous tribes.

The Forum has joined Sangharsh that includes a host of organisations including National Alliance for People

PRIVATE power producing companies are lining up to buy small renewable assets as a widening power supply deficit and growing concerns on pollution prompt firms to acquire clean technology units.

According to private equity and advisory firms, investments in small hydro projects has picked up as such projects are built on small rivers and have no issues related to resettlement of villages.

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has passed a Bill laying down that companies running hydro-electric power projects in the state pay for the water they use to generate electricity.

The move, the government said, will earn the state Rs 848 crore a year in additional revenue.

In unprecedented distancing from the government by a key minister and questioning its development works in the strategic North-East and Bhutan, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has taken up with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demands for a review of all hydel projects in the region and a

Hyderabad, Sept.

Mandi, September 2
Power producers and the Himachal government are planning to contest the recommendations of the Shukla Committee before the High Court.

IT

Beijing: Further boosting its ranking as the world's largest producer of hydro electric power, China on Wednesday commissioned a new 700,000 kw unit at Xiaowan, built at a cost of $5.86 billion.

PROTESTS by environmentalists, religious and social leaders has forced the government to reconsider its decision to continue with Loharinag Pala project on the Bhaghirathi river in Uttarakhand.

R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, Aug 19