Imphal, September 09, 2010: Giving an impetus to the years old anti-Tipaimukh dam movement, people living in the downstream of the proposed dam, particularly inhabitants of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts of Assam have raised strong objection to the controversial project.

The Committee on Peoples and Environment (COPE), constituted by 38 different organisations based in these three districts of Assam, has voiced serious concerns over the Tipaimukh Dam.

Incidentally, people living upstream of the proposed dam in Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Senapati districts of Manipur have been vehemently opposing Tipaimukh Project since the project was conceived.

They have categorically voiced their concerns of the likely impacts of the proposed dam such as inundation of large tracts of human settlement areas by backwater formed by the dam, ecological imbalance, disappearance of rare flora and fauna and uprooting hundreds of families from their sources of livelihood.

Already, people of Bangladesh have been protesting against the proposed dam.

Now the people of Barak Valley, Assam have joined the anti-Tipaimukh movement.

They put forth their apprehensions that the proposed dam would affect 38 lakh people of Barak valley.

Tipaimukh Dam would cause water shortage for human consumption as well as agriculture in Barak valley.

It would also upset ecological balance besides leading to contamination of rivers in the downstream.

Highlighting all these concerns, the COPE submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi today.

Later speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, COPE secretary general Pijush Kanti Das said that construction Tipaimukh Dam would seriously affect the livelihood of 38 lakh people of Barak Valley.

Pointing out that the North East region is located in a highly seismic zone, Kanti Das highlighted the possibility of washing out many human settlement areas of Barak Valley in case Tipaimukh Dam gives away or breaks down in the event of an earthquake.

The decision to go ahead with Tipaimukh Project need a thorough review, he asserted.

Taking part in the press meet, COPE organising secretary S Herajit Singh said that the two lakhs Meitei population of Barak Valley are entirely dependent on agriculture for their livelihood.

If the Tipaimukh Dam is constructed, these farmers would face serious problems on account of water shortage for agriculture as river water would be blocked by Tipaimukh Dam.

He further appealed to all the people of Manipur to stand united and firm against Tipaimukh Project.

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