Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Jul 27:
The 24 hour general strike called by the Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Project (ACTIP) against the failure of the State Government to provide any positive response to its four point demands came into force with effect from 6 pm today.
However, other proposed agitation movements like highway blockade after the 24 hour general strike have been cancelled till August 21.The 24 hours general strike will continue till 6 pm tomorrow.
The cancellation of the proposed subsequent agitation was decided after taking into account the open discussion programme on Tipaimukh Project convened by the State Government on August 21.During a press conference convened by ACTIP at the office of UPF today, co-convenor of ACTIP Oinam Bikramjit declared that scrapping of the Tipaimukh Project is the primary objective of ACTIP.
He observed that it was a good sign for the State Government to convene a public discussion programme on the controversial project.
Bikramjit informed that ACTIP would put three points for the open discussion programme and asserted that the State Government should disclose its position to the public and ACTIP ten days before the proposed open discussion programme whether it would accept the points forwarded by ACTIP.
He cautioned that if the State fails to consider its three points in a positive light, agitation of all sorts would be launched.
The three points forwarded by ACTIP included revocation of the MoU signed between the State Government and NEEPCO until a final resolution is adopted on the issue with public consensus, disclosure of the Environmental Impact Assessment Management Plan and Social Impact Assessment Management Plan and other relevant project reports regarding the Tipaimukh project and to ensure that all the people are allowed to express their opinions on the issue during the discussion programme and to ensure that no precondition is attached to the discussion programme, informed Bikramjit.
Reminding that ACTIP had talked with the Chief Minister on its demands on July 25, Bikramjit noted that it was learnt during the talk that NEEPCO is yet to submit a definite project report to the State Government.
As per a report of NEEPCO, it is said that the Project would generate 416 MW of power while the Chief Minister claimed that it would generate 1500 MW of power.
The co-convenor construed that the State Government is still unable to assess the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed project.
ACTIP has been demanding constitution of an open forum with leaders of civil societies, academicians, environmentalists, wild life activists, intellectuals and others to work towards revocation of the MoU, and to organise the fourth public discussion programme on the issue, the resolutions of which would bound the State Government.
The 24 hour state-wide strike was called after the State Government failed to fulfil these demands, said Bikramjit.