Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 07:
The Citizens� Concern for Dams and Development has expressed strong condemnation over the recent sanctioning of Rs 6000 crores by the Central Government�s Public Investment Board for early commencement of the construction of Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric power Project in Manipur.
In a statement, CCDD co-chairperson Aram Pamei asserted that the process where the central Government imposes a project, skirting around the State institutions and consulting the people, stood against all democratic principals and practices of the Government of India.
Seeking a clarification from the Public investment Board on the conditions of sanctioning on a project which is still awaiting Environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, the CCDD statement pointed out that the project proponent, i.e.the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) has failed to respect the people�s call for access to the project related documents.
The public hearing in Manipur to listen to voices of the people to be affected has not been conducted and the public hearing on the project at Tuiva in Mizoram in November 2004 resulted in stern opposition from the people of Mizoram.
Moreover, the Manipur Pollution Control Board has not been intimated over the conditions and process of sanctioning, id done, which is a serious violation of the Environmental Protection Act, 1986 and its subsequent amendments, the statement observed.
CCDD also strongly objected to Union Minister for heavy Industries Santosh Mohan Dev, who recently attended the meeting for sanctioning the amount and his �Barak Valley centric� views on Tipaimukh HEP project as to control floods in Assam.