Mapithel Dam Construction Must Halt for Now
- Citizens Concern For Dams And Development -

23 November 2010

The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) reiterates its position, as mutually agreed between the Government of Manipur and the affected people, that the review of Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RnR) by the Expert Review Committee of the upstream and downstream affected villages, of the Mapithel Dam should be conducted and implemented prior to the completion of the dam.

However, we observe that it is going the opposite, while the effort to complete the dam is underway with visible urgency; there is no clear sincerity of commitment to conduct and complete the Review of RnR indicating that the affected people come last in the scheme of things.

In our recent visit to the dam site, it is observed that construction activities have begun possibly trying to complete the dam within early next year and at the same time there is no progress on the expert review processes.

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.

As we have already stated earlier, urgency for completion of the project must be associated with ethical treatment of the affected people. CCDD once again calls for immediate halt of dam construction activities until proper completion of the Review of Rehabilitation & Resettlement and its implementation.

As CCDD have in the past made it clear that it will not stand mute to neglecting the affected people and CCDD will be left with no option but to take this matter to the people and the court in order that the affected people are rehabilitated first before the completion of the dam.

Aram Pamei
Co-Convenor

Ramananda Wangkheirakpam
Coordinator C/0 Forum for Indigneous Perspectives& Action
Jupiter Yambem Center, Paona International Market,
Imphal West 795001, Manipur
www.nealliance.net
Tel: +91 385 2445134
Skype: ramananda.wangkheirakpam
FIPA is North East Peoples Alliance Secretariat in Manipur

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This information is sent to e-pao.net by Ramananda Wangkheirakpam (CCDD) . The sender can be contacted at wangkheilakpa(at)gmail(dot)com
This PR was webcasted on November 23, 2010.

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