Consensus before construction of Tipaimukh dam: AMUCO

Imphal, January 31: The All Manipur United Clubs' Organization (AMUCO) has expressed its gratitude to Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) for professing the ideal of "Live Together" and resenting the ethnic polarization with regards to the proposed Tipaimukh Dam, according to a press hand out issued by Tompok Likmabam, secretary, publicity, AMUCO. We have the strong belief that ethnic polarization is not the answer to the myriad number of problems' faced by the people of Manipur inhabiting in this hilly country of a small area of 22,356 square kilometers. We therefore, profess ethnic solidarity to solve the problems faced by the people of Manipur irrespective of ethnic affinity to any particular group. It is exactly with this belief that AMUCO is presently undertaking the mass campaign to safeguard the unity and territorial integrity of Manipur with the theme of "Live Together, Struggle Together and Grow Together". The "Integrity Flag" released by AMUCO with the message of "Punna Hingminnabagi Leepunna Manipurgi Ngamkhei Ngaklee", shows our firm belief in the ethnic solidarity rather than ethnic polarization, the hand out says. But, we beg to differ with the idea that the experts and the government should decide the future of the people unilateral. We believe that it should be the people of themselves and not the experts and the government to decide the correct path of development, which should be undertaken at this critical juncture. The fact that various projects of development, which was decided by the experts and the government in Manipur, have brought many harms rather than benefits to the people of Manipur strengthens this point AMUCO said in a press statement. With the firm belief that the people of Manipur, regardless of their ethnic affiliation with live together for all times to come, it is important to discuss thoroughly the harms and benefits of the Tipaimukh Dam before it accepted by the public. We are for the development of the Tipaimukh area, which is one of the most neglected in Manipur. But all the dreams promised by the promised by the proposed Tipaimukh Dam come true is a big question, the hand out further says. Experience elsewhere in other parts of the world has clearly shown those have brought miseries to the common people. True, the construction of the Dam will benefit a few people, but the permanent damage caused by the Dam will also be enormous. And, as such AMUCO have expressed strong reservations against the construction of Tipaimukh Dam. We would like to discuss the issue of the construction of Tipaimukh Dam in public liking into consideration the following points - (a) There should be a consensus amongst the various sections of the people regarding the harms and benefits of the Dam, (b) The Tipaimukh Dam should not cause irreparable damage to the rich water resources of Manipur, which remains to be harnessed scientifically for the benefit of the whole people of Manipur and (c) the development of the Tipaimukh and other affected areas should be given top priority, the hand out added. AMUCO strongly urged the government of Manipur to take up appropriate action of considering the above points and also the various views expressed by various communities living in Manipur.