Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 23:
Even as the pro and anti dam lobby continue the debate over the construction of the Tipaimukh Dam, the United Naga Council (UNC) has, once and for all, resolved to oppose the construction of the dam at all cost, reports NNN.
This firm decision of the Naga organisation was taken in the October 20 special session of the UNC at Tahamzam (Senapati).
In a statement made available to Newmai News Network today by its general secretary Azang Longmai, the UNC said that the Naga frontal organisations and Naga tribe's presidents had taken a strong stance against what it termed as 'imposition on indigenous rights'.
"In the UNC Special Session held at Taphou village, Tahamzam (Senapati), on October 20, 2006, reaffirmed against the construction of Tipaimukh Mega Dam.
In the session all the frontal organizations (UNC, NPMHR, NWUM, ANSAM) and all the Naga tribes' present presidents unanimously agreed to take a strong stance against the imposition on indigenous minority rights", said the UNC statement.
It further stated that the proposed "Tipaimukh Mega Dam" has not fulfilled free, prior and informed consent, adding that construction of such a mega dam is a gross violation of rights to life and livelihood and contempt of basic human values.
Development projects must be fundamentally based on the choice of the people concerned.
The people have the rights to reject the kind of development projects that we do not need or want, explained the UNC in the statement.
The United Naga Council also said that the Naga organizations who participated on the October 20 special session of the UNC had strongly objected to conduct the public hearing on Tipaimukh Dam fixed on November 17 at Churachandpur District and November 22 at Tamenglong District respectively.
The Naga organizations demanded the immediate withdrawal of the proposed public hearing saying that such hearings would only mislead the public and eyewash to general mass.
"Therefore, we demand total scrapping the proposed Tipaimukh Mega Dam Project", asserted the UNC statement.