Won't accept EIA-2020: AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi

* It will pose a threat to forest, environment, climate and biodiversity of Assam and other NE States

* Notification will cleverly pave the way for ruthless exploitation of State's resources by the Centre

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The AASU (All Assam Students' Union) has sniffed in the Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 a conspiracy for 'ruthless exploitation of the resources of Assam and other States of the Northeast'. The draft EIA has been issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

A statement issued to the media on Sunday by AASU president Dipanko Kumar Nath and general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said, "The EIA 2020 will pose a grave threat to the forest, environment, atmosphere, climate and biodiversity of Assam and other States in the Northeast. This apart, the Notification will cleverly pave the way for ruthless exploitation of the resources of Assam and the Northeast by the Centre. Under no circumstances we can accept such a notification."

The students' union said that it is going to present reasonably and scientifically the adverse impact of the Notification on Assam and the Northeast at the public hearing on the EIA 2020 that is slated to be concluded on August 11, 2020. "We're also going to send a letter each to the Prime Minister and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change opposing EIA-2020," the statement said.

The AASU has also urged all parties, organizations and general public of the State to send letters to the Prime Minister and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change opposing EIA-2020. This apart, the two students' leaders have also appealed to the people of all strata of the State to register their protest against EIA-2020 in the social media.

"EIA-2020 has also brought coal mining, digging of oil well, thermal power, nuclear projects, hydroelectric projects, industries etc under it. The public cannot oppose modernization of irrigation projects, extension of national highways, projects for national safety and security etc in accordance with the draft notification. This apart, national safety and security projects won't be heard in the public hearing. Total hearing period of all the projects has been reduced to 20 days. Even if the Environment Act is violated, the public cannot do anything. It will also allow the government to mine coal and extract oil in reserved forest areas without any hindrance, so is the setting up of industries within 100 km of international borders. It will lead to destruction of the environment. This notification is against the interests of Assam. It has to be cancelled," the statement said.

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