Appeal to Sonia Gandhi on Khuga Dam in Manipur

Delhi, The 7th Nov 2010

To
Madam Sonia Gandhi, M.P
Chairperson,
National Advisory Council (NAC)
Government of India
New Delhi

Subject:- Appeal for conducting Dam Safety Analysis (DSA) and scrutinizing the fitness of the Multi-Purpose Khuga Earth Dam Project in the state of Manipur by expert committees to uphold the interest of the nation and for the safety of the local publics.

Hon’ble Madam,

With due respect, and being aware of your unflinching concern for the welfare and safety of the tribals and people in the remote Northeastern part of the country, I have the moral obligation to bring to the notice of your honour, the facts and condition of the Multi-Purpose Khuga Earth Dam project covering a catchments areas of 321 Sq. Km. in the district of Churachandpur for favour of your contemplation on the quality and durability of the Dam for public safety and utilities.

The foundation stone of this Multi-Purpose Khuga Earth Dam project was laid by the then Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission in the year 1980 for the purpose of generating 1.5 Mega Watts of Hydro Electricity, 50,00,000 gallons of drinking water and 68 Km long irrigation canal for 9575 hectares of agriculture land in the state of Manipur. The cost of the project has been increase to Rs 381.28 Crores after several revisions which is the highest investment ever made by the Central Government in the district of churachandpur, Manipur state.
The construction of the project began in the year 1983 and come to a standstill in the late nineties due to alleged financial irregularities compounded with ethnic clashes and took 29 years to complete the project. However, the reality is far from what is written in the paper and what actually is seen in the project sites. The entire project seems to be constructed unscientifically and haphazardly with almost no quality test. There is no assurance on the quality and stability of the project and whatsoever has been completed appears to be a temporary cosmetic eyewash.

So far, neither the Central nor the state government comes out with the standard specifications of the performance of the Dam. Most people are not aware about the possible structural failure, spillway and erosions of upstream and down stream surface, seepage and possible hydraulic failure. The is no energy dissipation arrangement to ensure the safety of the people for at least a hundred years as per international standard.

The National Planning Commission, Union Ministry of Economic Affairs, Union Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Forests, Agriculture and Ministry Tribal Affairs must take the full responsibility to get the reports prepared on scientific lines and scrutinized by genuine expert committees with honest and accountable experts to uphold the interests of the nation in the long run.

When the International Humanitarian law considered Dams as "an installations containing dangerous forces due to the massive impact of a possible destruction on the civilian population and the environment” the Khuga Earth Dam is constructed at a height of 35 meters and 230 meters width without proper supervisions of central expert team and Dam Safety Analysis. (DSA) barely a kilometer away from public settlement amounts to passing death sentences against potential victims who were living right below the mouth of the Dam.

Alarmingly, most of the Dam burst in India are caused by structural failure and under estimation of the Spillway capacity and lack of lack of scientific methodology e.g. the. Machchu Dam in Gujarat and Polavaram Dam Andra Pradesh, There is apprehension that this Khuga Earth Dam may also face the same in view of the poor handling of the construction by engineers and contractors in the event of excess rainfall, tilting of the Dam or sliding the hills due to water pressure / earth quake / cyclone which cannot be rule out.

In such unforeseen circumstances, the said Dam is bound sweep away at least 90 per cent of the total population of Churachandpur town living right below the mouth of the Dam within minutes like the Machchu Dam in Morvi that claims thousands of lives.

Madam, please recalled the sudden burst of Machchu Dam in Morvi Industrial Town in the state of Gujarat located 5 Km away from the town. The sudden burst of the Dam swept away more than 1500 lives on 11-8-1979 within a matter of 9 minutes after 24hrs of heavy down pour of rain. The water recedes after 4 hours and no time left for any emergency evacuation and disaster management.

The caused of the burst of the Dam is that the Spillway capacity provided for 5663 m3/sec (cusecs) could not contain the pressure of 16307 cusecs due to the heavy rainfall. Similarly, there is no guarantee or expert surveillance on the capacity of this Khuga Earth Dam to withstand similar situation like the Machchu Dam.

Several protests against the shabby construction of this Earth Dam, denial of lawful compensation to the thousands of displaced tribals, and misappropriation of funds in the construction of the Khuga Dam had been carried out in the past but to no avail. The recent objection against the inauguration of the said Dam by the Joint Action Committee on Khuga Dam Project would be the last resort that an ordinary citizens can afford in a democratically set up of government.

Therefore, in view of the above circumstances and the probabilities involved, I humbly prayed that your honor kindly look into the matter and take necessary action in the interest of the nation and for the safety of the local tribal living right below the mouth of the 35 meter height Khuga Dam in churachandpur district of Manipur state.

In The Service of the People

(Khamchinpau Zou (K.Zou)
Social Worker