Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, October 02:
The rally against high dams in North East India was organised on the theme "Let the Rivers flow free" under the aegis of Forum on Dam and Development, Chandel at Pallel Bazar, on September 30, according to a delayed news reports.
More than 200 people from different communities of Manipur participated showing solidarity to the rally.
With ACTIP convenor Nanda Kamei, and its co-convenors Kinderson Pamei, Thokchom Ratan and Oinam Bikramjit, a public meeting was convened at the Lamkang Naga Baptist Association ground at the end of the meeting.
Dam Action Committee (DAC) of Khuga Multipurpose Project, Churachandpur and Mapithel Dam Affected People of Thoubal Multipurpose Project, Ukhrul, testified their bitter experiences in the meeting , stated the ACTIP statement, adding several concerned groups on damming of rivers on tribal and indigenous territories including the ACTIP, Committee Against Tipaimukh Dam (CATD), Citizens Concerns for Dams and Development (CCDD) representative spoke and exhorted to assert the rights for selfdetermined socio-economic development.
While testifying her experiences on Khuga Dam Cecilia Mamang of Dam Action Committee, said Khuga Dam Project is a mistake on the side of the State Govt as the local displaced people was not taken care of thereafter.
A mere Rs.35,000 was compensated of which more than 50% was deducted by the concerned officials while processing to withdraw the money, ACTIP statement said quoting Cecilia Mamang.
All these benefits of construction were led to few and selected people only.
Now Govt refuses to give compensation to all those who does not possess pakapata.
To fight this injustice, Dam Action Committee was formed.
Unfortunately, the Govt instead of responding to the people's legitimate demands responded with bullets killing three people, maiming and five other added the ACTIP statement quoting Cecilia.
Another speaker of the public meeting Thanmi Kashung of Mapithel Dam Affected People testified their experiences before the meeting.
He said that there are many things than money can never compensate.
"Mapithel Dam is 56 meter high and 1074 meter broad.
In 1979, the project was conceived."The Govt deceived people saying this is for your development".
But today six tribal indigenous villages including church, workplaces and even graveyards were totally under water.
No proper and adequate rehabilitation and resettlement was given.
In stead the ministers, engineers, the bureaucrats and contractors all are becoming rich men with magnificent house, luxury car, etc.
They are amassing their wealth at the expense of their own people" he said.
Aja daily editor Valley Rose Hungyo said that in Manipur, the first dam or hydro electric power generation project is Loktak Project.
There we have seen the burns of 'development' borne by the local people of the Loktak.
Next is the Khuga Dam experiences.
The people were forced up to the hill top where there is no place for cultivation, and other means of livelihood surrounded by water and water only.
She pointed out that the promised townships were only for the outsiders.
Rose said, "local people were displaced from their homestead, cultivable lands.
They become refugees in their own lands doing only petty odd jobs" she asserted.
Oiman Bikramjit, Co-Convener, ACTIP detailed the brief profile of the Tipaimukh Project.
He said that what we are saying is well researched and documented information collected from academicians and professionals and thus the statement of Mr Francis Ngajokpa is very unfortunate.
It is the responsibility of all to safeguard our future generation from the destructive Tipaimukh Dam.
He also pointed out the inevitability of the demands put forward in the memorandum.