Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, May 30 2009:
Bangladesh authorities are likely to interfere in the construction work of the controversial Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydel Project in Manipur as the former has decided to send an all-party Parliamentary Committee to visit the site of the dam site, according to well placed sources.
However, only after the committee submits its report to the Parliament and a discussion is held will the Bangladesh Government decided whether it should give clearance for the construction of the dam or not, informed a highly reliable source from Indian Embassy in Bangladesh.
According to some Bangladesh experts, the project, located barely 1 km from Bangladesh's Zakiganj border, would hit the flow of the Surma and the Kushiara.
Many civil society leaders have joined the environmentalists, who have held many rounds of talks on the possible adverse impact of the dam.
Fears have also been expressed that the project would leave the river and other water bodies downstream dry, upsetting the ecological balance and affecting
many people.
The people of Manipur along with various environmentalists and human rights activists have opposed to the construction of the dam stating of the damage that it would cause to the environment and the people it would affect.
The Tipaimukh Hydroelectric Project is being constructed near the confluence of Barak and Tuivai rivers in Manipur, India and within 100 km of Bangladesh border.
Costing Rs 6,351 crore ($1.35 billion) the 164 meter high dam will have a firm generation capacity of 401.25MW of electricity.
While Hydroelectric projects are typically considered greener than other power generation options in short term, it has significant long-term impact to the environment like changes in the ecosystem, destroying nearby settlements and changing habitat conditions of people, fish and wildlife.
Especially in the densely populated countries like India and Bangladesh, where rivers are lifelines, projects like Tipaimukh will create adverse effect to a huge number of population and their habitats.
No wonder right from the start this project faced protests from potentially affected people in India, and from the downstream neighbour Bangladesh.
The people of Manipur have been fighting legally to stop the project but have so far been unsuccessful.
About 20 influential socio-political organizations in Manipur have united in the banner of Action Committee against Tipaimukh Project and are protesting against the project.
The Sinlung Indigenous People Human Rights Organisation (SIPHRO) of India said that the process for choosing it (the project premises) ignored both the indigenous people and the recommendations of the WCD (World Commission on Dams).
It is being said that this dam is being built for the greater interest of the people of North Eastern India by controlling the rivers to prevent flood in the Assam region and producing electricity which will light the whole NE region.