Ukhrul, November 01: Opposition to construction of the Tipaimukh dam is gaining momentum with yet another Naga social organisation organising a meet recently at Tangkhul Theological Association Hall Ukhrul that lend its voices to the anti-dam movement.

Representatives of Naga bodies including Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights, South and Ukhrul units, Naga Women's Union, Manipur (NWUM), All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM), TNL (Tangkhul Naga Long), TKS (Tangkhul Students' Union), TSL (Tangkhul Women Council) and Hunphun Katamnao Long (Ukhrul Students Union) attended the "one day Leaders Meet" at TTA conference hall.

The leaders condemning concerted effort of State authorities to go ahead with the dam construction activities described the attitude as "Forced Development" thrown upon the people at the behest of politician-bureaucrat-technocrats rather than seeking voluntary consent of the people as the dam would drastically reduce employment opportunity in agricultural sector.

"It is the policy of displacing tribal people from the affected areas," said the ATSUM president John Pulamtei.

The proposed dam of 390 m long and 162.8 m high at 180 m above sea level, stand to dislocate nearly 1,00,000 people of 14 villages submerging 311 sq km of Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Senapati districts apart from inundating most part of Sinlung Hill district of Mizoram contrary to which the project would benefit NEEPCO in terms of croresof rupees, expressed the leaders.

Elaborating on it, the leaders opined that the massive construction would cause ecological imbalances, destroy huge tract of cultivable land upon which the indigenous people depend for their sustenance.

Moreover, many rare species of flora and fauna would be ruined forever in addition to drastic changes caused to the landscape and many historical and sacred sites, they predicted.

Desiring that experts in the field be consulted and plight of the people likely to be affected be taken into account, the meeting resolved to resort to democratic form of agitation against the dam construction in case both the State and Central govts do not encompass and address grievances of the public.

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