SHILLONG, Aug 23: Going by the past experience of adverse economic, social and cultural impacts of dams, a serious review of the proposed plan to convert the north-eastern region into a power-house of the country by building 168 dams, is not only called for but imperative to prevent a massive disaster. The view was expressed at a two-day meeting of the 2nd Consultation on Dams in North east India, which concluded at Youth Hostel here yesterday. The Government of India has identified 168 sites as possible sites for dams, of which 26 projects have already been cleared.
About 50 participants from six states in the North East, including affected people from Loktak, Mapithel dam and Tipaimukh (Manipur), Gumti (Tripura), Pagladiya (Assam) projects attended the 2nd Consultation. Participants included representatives from proposed projects in Lower Subansiri, Siang, Teesta and Bhairavi.
The Consultation was organized by ?Citizens? Concern for Dams and Development (CCDA), a forum based in Manipur fighting against dams in the NE. The 1st Consultation was held at Mawlein in Meghalaya in July 2001.
Dr S Kothari, who has studied adverse impact of dams for the last 30 years, alleged ?Dams in the NE were based on a foundation of lies and half-truths. People of the region will have to pay a heavy long-time price for the benefits. Dams would also excerbate conflicts in the region.?
?Because of the opposition that would come if all the facts are revealed, critical information and data are kept secret and even manipulated,? Dr Kothari accused. As a result, dams have become a serious problem in the country, creating serious and irreversible damage to ecosystems wherever dams are built, he told the meeting.
A participant from Arunachal Pradesh alleged that the NHPC, which is executing the dams in the state, has evaded sharing any information on dams with the people to be affected. Another participant charged that a ?public hearing? is planned in Mizoram on the Tipaimukh dam without the knowledge of the people of Manipur though 90 of the submergence will be in the state.
Citing the plight of displaced people, an affected person from Tripura revealed that 26,000 displaced people of
Gumti project, which was commissioned in 1973, were yet to be adequately compensated or rehabilitated. The meeting expressed serious concern that a range of international financial agencies like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, JBIC (Japan), etc, are involved in these projects with inadequate studies and almost no consultation with local communities and the civil society of the North East. The CCDD has demanded that full democratic process becomes the norm in the building of large dams in the region.