Anti-dam bodies dig in heels, harden stand

Imphal, July 30 2009

Continuing with their stiff opposition to the Tipaimukh Multipurpose Project, the Citizens Concerns for Dams and Development (CCDD), Committee on Land and Natural Resources (COL NAR) and Action Commi ttee Against Tipaimukh Dam (ACTIP) have asserted that the project should not be taken up in Manipur without people's consent.

The Tipaimukh Project would destroy invaluable natural resources, besides curtailing the means of livelihood of thousands of people and violating their tradition and culture, they claimed.

"Even if the Government decides to go ahead with the project, we would stand op posed to the project for all generations", said the functionaries of these organisations.

Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club here today, Aram Pamei from the CCDD said that Tipaimukh Dam would submerge 90 villages in the catchment areas of the project.

Reminding that the people have been urging the Government and relevant authorities to scrap the project since 1990, Aram Pamei decried that MoUs have been signed between the Government and implementing agencies followed by bogus public hearings on five occasion.

CCDD general secretary, Joseph Hmar said that proposed project with installed capacity of 1500 MW of power, should not be constructed in Manipur, which does not stand to benefit anything substantial from the project.

Though people welcome development projects, any project which threatens environment, ecology and people's livelihood will be resisted with all force.

ACTIP general secretary Bikramjit said that people's resolution against Tipaimukh need to be strengthened in the backdrop of the Bangladesh Parliamentary team's visit to Tipaimukh Dam site and the effort of the Government of India to browbeat the people of Manipur.

Even if both the Bangladesh Government and Government of India agree to build Tipaimukh Dam, a third party should be roped in to make a detailed study on the possible impacts of the dam, Bikramjit asserted.

Taking part in the press meet, UNC president Samson said pros and cons of all policies and programmes of the Govt should be analysed before implementing them.

Samson further decried that no project report has been made available to the public about Tipaimukh Project.

This is clear evidence that the Government has been doing nothing in the interest of the people till date, he alleged.

The UNC would always stand against the Tipaimukh Project which is against the interest of the, people, he added.