Imphal, October 27: While accusing the Govt of turning deaf ear to the numerous pleas made by the dam affected people, the Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organisation (MDAVO) has taken its decision to totally oppose construction of the Thoubal Multi-Purpose Project, popularly known as Mapithel Dam.

The mass deliberation on the matter was held yesterday at Chadong village under Ukhrul district.

After minute deliberations MDAVO submitted a memorandum to the Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control Department.

The memorandum said that considering all these manipulations and threat to the life of the people in and around the project, MDAVO had submitted various memoranda to constitute an expert committee to review the whole aspects of the Mapithel Dam.

It further stated that till date no positive response was received from the authority, rather security forces have been stationed in and around the dam site.

It said that after in-dept deliberation on the above facts and points, the affected peoples strongly con demned the actions of the Govt for failing to respond and redress the legitimate demands, submitted in the form of memorandum.

Yesterday�s deliberation unanimously resolved to demand again to the concern authority to constitute an expert review committee at the earliest to review the whole aspects of the Mapithel Dam so that the interest and the life of the affected people and the surrounding environment are properly safeguarded even during and after the project/dam is commissioned.

Another resolution was that until and unless the project/dam is reviewed as demanded the affected people would totally oppose the ongoing construction work and the work should be suspended.

It is further resolved that if the Govt failed to respond to our legitimate demand, the affected indigenous peoples will resort to any democratic means to safeguard life and properties against the destructive project taken up by the Govt.And further it resolved that no one should work in collusion with IFCD against the interest of the peoples.

After the deliberation MDAVO chairman R.Kasar and its assistant secretary RV Leishipem informed the media that while undermining the Mapithel Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose project) affected people and their genuine demands to constitute an expert committee to review the whole aspects of the outdated project, Chief Engineer IFCD K Ibotomba and Minister Phungzathang Tonsing are interested only in money at the cost of the affected people.

Comment