Nuances of Singda Dam Expansion Plan

Koijam Pushparani / Jiten Yumnam *

Singda Dam, a popular sight-seeing place (Pictured in 2007) :: Pix - Rocky Pebam

Of late, the Government of Manipur decided to develop Singda dam area, which includes development of catchment area, expansion of dam area and beautification of Singda dam as a tourist site. The Government of Manipur through the Irrigation and Flood Control Department also proposed to plant 2 lakhs saplings in the area. In order to accomplish these plans, the government plans to acquire more land for which they issued an order an acquisition of over Seven acres of land around Singda New Bazar in Senapati and Imphal West District.

Subsequently, the Government of Manipur through the Land and Revenue Department issued an eviction order on 28 May 2013. It is rather interesting to ponder the rationale of the new proposed plan as to whether it is for constructive or destructive purposes, as far as development is concerned.

The Singda Dam, commissioned in 1995 and located about 20 km northwest of Imphal, is a multipurpose Project intended to provide drinking water, irrigation and also for the generation of 750 Kilowatt of electricity. In 1975, the Government of Manipur already acquired 517 acres from Ireng and Kadangband village for the project, which includes prime agriculture land for the construction of canal and water supply. Besides irrigation of the agricultural fields in Kadangband, Chirang, Phumlou, Sanjenbam, Lairensajik, Phayang, Lamsang in Imphal West district etc, the project also aimed at supplying water to greater Imphal. The Government has also announced the construction of a public garden entitled Brindavan Garden at the foothill of the dam.

But unlike as planned, the project has not successfully delivered its objectives, except for supplying water. The Brindavan garden is in complete shambles, the irrigation project has failed and the power generating unit lying idle without even generation a single unit of power. Singda Dam supplied water for irrigation in until it stopped after the gates of the dam were broken in 2010. Instead of improvising the project and to help it meet its promised goals, the government took the drastic step of acquiring few more acres of land in the name of development.

The proposed new development plan of the Government has already provoked concerns among the communities settled in the immediate periphery of the Singda Dam notified area, especially in Ireng and Kadangband Villages due to the eviction plan in Singda New Bazar Area. The proposed eviction will now affect nearly 220 members of the communities residing in and around Singda New Bazar, viz. the Kharam, the Vaiphei, Rongmei (Ireng Nagas) and the Meiteis.

Already, the affected communities tendered strong resentment against the proposed eviction plan, expressing disappointments on the government's disregard of the impact of the dam on the lives of the people and ecology. They expressed that the Singda dam not only failed to meet the water required for irrigation but also affected the productivity of the food grains. The 750 kilowatt Micro-Hydel power plant has failed to provide adequate power supply. It wouldn't be incorrect in stating that Singda is a failed project.

And it can be least justified if the government wants to seize more land to expand the dam and to beautify it. Opposing the government's move, the affected communities had organized series of meeting and resolutions. They urged that, if at all the government has a serious concern about developing the dam they should consult the affected communities, especially those living in upstream of Singda Dam, on how to manage the catchment area and the environment. Apart from affecting the people and ecology, the eviction also includes the destruction of a religious place, a church.

On 29th April, 2013, the Singtha New Bazar Development Committee formed in 1975, representing the people living within Singtha new bazaar, appealed to the government to reconsider the eviction plan. On behalf of the people residing in and around Singda, a resolution was also made in a public meeting organised by Joint Action Committee against the forced eviction of Singda Kadangband on 22nd June, 2013. On the contrary of the memorandums that have been submitted to the Government, the government only response was the eviction order dated 28 May 2013.

Instead of reviewing the performance of Singda dam for its adherence to its stated objectives, which is confirmed to be under performing in terms of its ability to meet the irrigation targets, the power generation targets and even the much hyped water supply targets for Imphal town, the government only came up with a plan to acquire more land. An appraisal process as to why and how the Singda dam is underperforming and a clear policy prescriptions based on such appraisal is clearly lacking.

A holistic plan to develop and enhance the performance of the dam is still absent. The Singda project has caused heavy deforestation of the surrounding forest and the afforestation plan of the government as a part of developing Singda remained doubtful. The affected community expressed that the government's plan to plant tree saplings and the development of catchment area in the downstream portion of Singda dam costing the lives of community seems totally unnecessary.

One can comprehend easily the concerns raised by the affected communities, especially the importance which the people accorded to their land. The land provides them the source of livelihood. It gives them food, medicine and a home. The government decided to snatch the means of their survival for the purpose of construction of dams. The construction affects the people living in both the upstream and downstream areas of the river who are economically dependent on it. It also affects the river which has also become an integral part of their social and cultural belief system. The plan for beautification of Singda by building big garden to attract the tourist won't buy trust and approval of the local people either.

There is no need for acquisition of more land further downstream as land already acquired previously in the downstream portion to the tune of nearly 10 acres of land continues to lay wasted. The Government can maximize and fully utilize this wasted land without creating further inconveniences and disturbance to communities around. The initiative has already disturbed the harmonious coexistence of several indigenous communities of Manipur in and around Singda Dam area. The intention of the government seems to be to attract funds from the Centre under the pretext of development, which, indeed, will be shared among the very few involved, viz, the government officials, the contractor and the company, etc.

The Government's exclusive move and decision to expand Singda dam without consulting the indigenous communities is a violation of indigenous peoples' rights as outlined by UN Declaration on the Rights of indigenous peoples. The community have not been provided the necessary information on the amount of land used and how it has been utilised for the project. And most importantly, the process and need to take the communities into account in all decision making processes is with due recognition of their inherent right to participate in such process is very much lacking. This exposed the lack of transparency and accountability of the government in carrying out the Singda dam project.

It was obvious that the affected community will oppose and question as to why the government need more land for the futile project. Furthermore, the government seem to be ignorant that the land acquisition will further impoverish and marginalised the poor and more importantly violate of the rights of indigenous people.

The holistic assessment of the performance and underperformance issues of the Singda Dam with due participation of all affected communities and the larger people of Manipur through an open and transparent process should precede before undertaking any expansion plan of the dam. The recommendations of the World Commission on Dam, 2000 for existing dams for its adherence to social, environment, safety safeguards etc should be clearly adhered to for such assessment. The protection accorded to all indigenous communities from all forms of forced eviction and also the rights enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples should be respected.

So long as the rationale of the new proposed plan to expand Singda dam catchment area is not to improve the performance of the dam, to fulfil its original objectives, or to address the social and environment impacts created by the dam, one will only construe that the proposed Singda dam expansion plan is just another sham exercise to rigidify the malpractices, nepotism and manipulations and to further entrench the practice of rampant corruption in Manipur in the guise of development. The unfolding events increasingly indicate the ongoing plan finds little relevance to realise the original purpose of the dam and to promote the interest of indigenous communities.