Imphal, April 16 2010: A protest rally was taken out at Ukhrul district headquarters today demanding review of the Mapithel and scraping of Tipaimukh Dams projects and other mega dams in the north eastern region of the country.

Over 2000 people of Ukhrul including affected people of the Mapithel Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose) Projects, Tipaimukh Hydro (Multi-purpose) Project, students and general pulbic of Ukhrul carried out the massive protest demonstration demanding review of the Mapithel Dam project and scraping of Tipaimukh Dam apart from calling to stop construction of other Mega Dams in the North Eastern Region.

Marching through different streets of the town in the district headquarters, the rally originated from two points, Hundung Junction and Kharasom Junction terminated at Tangkhul Ngana Long Ground after submitting a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of the district for onward submission to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohon Singh drawing his attention in scrapping of the two mega projects.

The protestors alleged that constructions of the dams are "blatant violation of rights to life and livelihood".

According to them, the Tipaimukh Hydro (Multi-purpose) Project has been opposing from its very conception and Manipur government pass through without people's free, prior and informed consent.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the government of Manipur and North Eastern Electricity Power Corporation Ltd has lapsed and in this regard, new attempt has been made by the government of Manipur and National Hydro Power Corporation and Satluj Jal Vidhyut for a new agreement, they said reiterating that the step taken up is violation of rights to life and livelihood.

Speaking at the public meeting held at the concluding part of the rally, president of the Tangkhul Katamnao Sanglong (Tangkhul Students Union), Wungnaoshang A Shimray said that the construction of the Mapithel Dam without proper rehabilitation on resettlement programme based on expert review committee constituted by the government of Manipur is a clear disregard to the voice of the affected people.

Government efforts to complete the construction of the dam by March 2011, announced by the Chief Minister in his recent visit to the dam site, without addressing the problems and issues raised by the affected people is an unfortunate thing, he lamented.

Today's protest rally was organised by the Tangkhul Katamnao Shanglong (TKS) under the sponsorship of the Citizen Concern on Dam and Development, Imphal, Mapithel Dam Affected Village Organisation, Mapithel as part of International Day of Action for Rivers.

Kinderson of CCDD, Imphal, Honreikhui Kashung of MDAVO and many intellectuals talked on the impacts to be given on the environment and biodiversity of the areas by the constructions of dams like the Mapithel and Tipaimukh in Manipur.

They also talked on the dangers of construction of such mega dams in the state like Manipur located with the seismic active zone.

They also talked on the necessity of keeping the natural flow of rivers undisturbed citing the impact to be given to the livelihood of the people and other living things by the disturbances in the flow of the rivers.

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