Non-completion of Review of Rehabilitation and Resettlement of affected people of Mapithel Dam
- Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) -

Imphal, 29 July 2010

The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) is painfully concerned that the Expert Review Committee on Rehabilitation and Resettlement of the affected people, upstream and downstream, of the Mapithel Dam is not showing any signs of progress despite the fact that the new date set for completion of Mapithel Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose Project) is not even one year away. On 28 March 2010, Mr Okram Ibobi, the Chief Minister of Manipur, announced that the dam will be completed by March 2011. The Chief Minister must be aware that the Expert Review and the implementation of Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RnR) must be completed one year prior to the completion of the dam.

According to the Rehabilitation Plan for the Oustees, 1998, prepared by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD), Government of Manipur for Thoubal Multipurpose Project (Mapithel Dam), Page no 52 Para 8, it is stated clearly that "The Rehabilitation plan will be completed before one year of the completion of the project”. In addition, the Government has accepted the Terms of Reference [of the Expert Review Committee- constituted by GOM order no.20/1/2005-IFC(Pt) dated 18 January 2008] No.12 which requires that the "Rehabilitation and Resettlement should be completed at least one year before any submergence takes place”. These are excerpts from legally binding documents and must be strictly adhered to.

We request that the Expert Review process be resumed so that there is faith installed to the affected people. Urgency for completion of the project must be associated with ethical treatment of the affected people. CCDD calls for immediate halt of dam construction activities until proper completion of the Review of Rehabilitation & Resettlement and its implementation.

Sincerely,
Signed
Joseph Hmar
Secretary

Jiten Yumnam
Jt. Secretary