Case Study of Maphou Dam Project
Effects w.r.t Maphou Village

Lal Lupho *

Short Background of Maphou Dam;

The proposal for the Maphou Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose Project) was submitted to the Central Water Commission, India in September 1976 and gained approval of the Planning Commission of India in May 1980. The dam was conceived to create additional irrigation potential, augment drinking water supply and generate hydel power.[1]

The main components of the project include the construction of:[2]
i. An earthen dam at Phayang Village and Maphou village with other appurtenant works for water supply and power generation.

ii. A barrage at Keithelmanbi, 17 kilometers downstream of Maphou village.

iii. Left and right canal systems off-taking from the barrage at Maphou and Nongdam kuki villages.

iv. Offices, Quarter and various infrastructures(including security establishment) at Maphou village.

The project will also include the construction of a powerhouse near the dam for generation of ancillary hydropower of 7.50 MW.[3]

The original estimated cost of the dam was 47. 25 crores and the target date for completion was 1987. The cost of the dam has been revised a few times and according to the latest estimate of June 2007, the cost for the dam has increased to 715.81 crores with 2008 as the new completion deadline.

The dam involves the construction of a 66 meters high barrage extending across 1074 meters making it one of the biggest earthen dams in India. The dam is designed to be a homogenous earth-filled dam requiring a staggering 93, 00, 000 cubic meters of soil to be borrowed from 6 sites.[4]

According to official figures, the dam will submerge an area of 1215 hectares.[5] However, calculations done on the basis of surveys conducted by non-governmental and community organizations put the figure much higher at 3, 568.77 hectares.

Despite the original completion target of 1987, construction of the dam began only in February 1990.[6] The dam construction continues unabated, 24 hours a day. The fact -finding team saw earth-digging machines working non-stop and files of trucks depositing soil on the dam site.

The dam will affect 17 tribal villages alone out of which 6 will be completely submerged. Around 10, 000 individuals will be either displaced or lose their primary source of livelihood.

1. The original estimated cost of the dam was 47. 25 crores and the target date for completion was 1987. The cost of the dam has been revised a few times and according to the latest estimate of June 2007, the cost for the dam has increased to 715.81 crores with 2008 as the new completion deadline.

While no revision on compensation packages were made at the same time project has cause high inflation on the price of paddy and agriculture land.

Effects of it :

The construction of Maphou Dam has let to high rise(inflation) of paddy and agriculture land in the Maphou dam area. And since the compensation were given at 1980's rate in 1997(after nearly twenty years) all the benefeciary of the compensation were not able to buy back equivalent paddy and agriculture land to compensate the land lost for the project (due to inflation-cost by the project) .

Resulting in landlessness among Maphou villagers who lost their land on the Maphou Dam Project.

2. Villagers whose livelihood depend on Thoubal river (Jugali worker) are left at the mercy of the project with no other alternative means to support themselves. Villagers working or whose livelihood depend on income from the Thoubal River (Jugali worker) are/will be left with no alternative means after the submersion of the whole area. The gov't as the constitutional guardian must insist on providing an alternative livelihood for the people dependent on Thoubal River.

3. Topological change on Maphou Landscape(Crack line on Maphou hills);
A very long line of crack approximately half a kilometer has occur on Maphou hills rage this is believe to be due to the project , so thorough research and study need to be conducted by agencies concern to study the effects of Maphou Dam on the topology of the area.

4. Ecological and environment effects;

Background ; Maphou village reserve Pine forest was initiated way back in the 1988-90's and after almost twenty years the whole of the pine forest(thousand of Pine tree) has been cut down after giving a lumsum compensation package(of 2 Lakh only).

In the domestic market process of the wood from the tree would have cost about 50 to 80 Lakhs. Maphou Village reserve forest of Pine tree were completely cut down for taking earth meant for the project. And this lost of Maphou village Pine forest has result in change of environment ecology of the area.

This ought to be compensated properly.

5. Effect on the life of Maphou villagers and suggested remedies:

Thoubal river, Land and the said Pine forest… etc are close to the heart of the villagers. Their way of life and living is much associated with all this. As tribal they are part of their culture and tradition.

1. The Maphou dam project has shrink land available for cultivation.

2. Large influx of workers from others part of India, presence of large contingent of security establishment and Onset of the Project has brought about unprecendented change in the way of life of the tribal villagers of Maphou Dam area and Maphou village in particular. The villagers belong to Thadou-kuki tribe and protection of their tribal identity and tribal way of life need to be taken seriously by the state. the Project cannot be at the cost of exploitation of the tribal way of life.

3. The security personnel station at Maphou Dam village indulge in eve teasing and drunkenness and at times bully Maphou Villagers.

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* Lal Lupho contributes to e-pao.net regularly . The writer can be contacted at lal(dot)lupho(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was webcasted on October 26 2010.

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