GUWAHATI, Nov 20 � Public activist Prof Deven Dutta has said that one did not have to be a technical expert to voice one�s opinion or concern over big dams or on any issue having far-reaching implications for the State�s socio-economic spheres.
Reacting to the mention in the recently-concluded Assembly session of �a Professor in English of Cotton College voicing concern over big dams�, Prof Dutta said that anyone with common sense, an alert mind, and some amount of reading was perfectly entitled to express his or her opinion on matters of public interest.
Questioning if it was necessary to be a doctor in order to be a Health Minister, Prof Dutta said that no one needed to be an expert to realize the �fraud� sought to be perpetrated on the people of the State after it had come to light that serious compromises were made on the design and structure of the Lower Subansiri Hydro-electric Project.
�Do corrupt politicians and their cohorts alone have the right to �speak� for the people?� he asked.
Pointing out that he had never said that the State did not require power, Prof Dutta said that leaving aside the issue of Assam�s �share� of the proposed power generation through mega dams, every person had the right to question the Government�s handling of the power situation.
�The power sector has been in a total mess due to corruption and mismanagement by those at the helm of affairs in the Power Department. What has the Government done to restore some semblance of normalcy in the sector? All it has done is to make the common man bear the brunt of the losses accruing from corruption and mismanagement while the political and bureaucratic bigwigs continue to enjoy free power,� Prof Dutta said.
Prof Dutta said that the State was passing through total chaos and anarchy, with law-breakers and anti-social elements having a field day. �Except for the media and a few organizations, there is virtually no opposition in the State. This has allowed the ruling party to brazenly defy public opinion and perpetuate its misdeeds,� he said.
