interesting discussion. why not expand it a bit and include the rest of the North-east instead of just focusing on Assam? we do live in a larger region and the forests which are being plundered are those on the Myanmar border and in Arunachal Pradesh as well as in Assam. Incidentally, on oil, there has been a Central cess levied on Assam oil for years which has amounted to not less than Rs 10,000 crores and which was supposed to be repatriated to the state. it hasn't been paid back. So, while I like Mrinal's idea of estimates and the possibility of selling on the international market, since the latter is not going to happen, why not work on getting GOI to give back Assam what is its due. I do not see either the opposition or the govt. in the state or our MPs making a noise about it, not to speak of civil society groups and other organizations.
Sanjoy Hazarika
