IMPHAL, April 18 –The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development(CCDD), a common platform of various bodies belonging to different communities, has strongly reacted to Chief Minister O Ibobi’s statement on the proposed construction of controversial Tipaimukh dam. The convenor of the common body and an eminent Naga women activist Aram Pamei while talking to reporters at the white palace hotel here said that the recent statement of the Chief Minister is “totally against interest of the people”.
Quoting reports Pamei said, ‘‘He should not make such a statement if he really felt the sentiment of the eco-friendly indigenous people”. The Chief Minister, Ibobi had recently admitted that the proposed Tipaimukh multi purpose project which costs crores of rupees would be constructed “at any cost”. Mention may be made here that influential Naga bodies including the United Naga Council Manipur, Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights, Naga Women Union Manipur, All Naga Students Association Manipur (ansam) and Zeliangrong Union have strongly protested the construction of the project.
Apprehension of affecting a huge area of forest and natural resource is also looming large over the construction of the dam at Tipaimukh, a place bordering Mizoram in Churachandpur district. “An estimated area of 275.8 square kilometer of forest and cultivable land would be affected both in Churachandpur and Tamenglong districts. Once the dam is constructed” Pamei pointed out.
Besides 90 villages in Tamenglong district and 40 villages in Churachandpur will also be affected”. The Government of Manipur and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO) have already signed a memorandum of understanding for the said project. However several social and voluntary organizations in Manipur are demanding transparency of the MoU for further debate.
On the other hand the State Power Department is yet to consider the demand of the general public. Eight main issues raised by the CCDD include loss of rich ancestral land and its resources, submergence of agricultural and horticultural lands as tribal lands are part of the culture, history and constitution of the villages,dam will result in turning communities into beggars etc.
Echoing the same sentiment of opposing the dam construction, president of the Hmar Students Association Joseph R Hmar said, ‘‘Taking up of a development project is encouraging. However it has to be discussed properly in the interest of the public”. The general secretary of All Manipur United Club’s organization general secretary N C Khuman also told mediamen that indigenous population of the region have been worshiping ‘nature’ since time immemorial “so we won’t compromise with any step to destroy the natural resources of Manipur in the interest of future generation”.
According to reports, the Tipaimukh multi-purpose project is estimated to generate 1500 MW apart from cautioning the perennial flood problem in the Barak Valley area in Cachar district of Assam.