Imphal, April 01: In continuation of the protest movements launched by several civil societies and people of Manipur since the time of inception of the Tipaimukh project against its construction, a silent protest rally would be staged here at Imphal on April 3 followed by a public meeting at THAU ground.

The rally to be organised by the Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Project (ACATP)a conglomerate of 25 different civil societies of Manipur would set off from Khuman Lampak and pass through Lilashing Khongnangkhong and Naga Mapal before converging at THAU ground for a public meeting.

In a press briefing held today at the office of HERICOUN, co-ordinator of ACATP O Bikramjit maintained that taking into account of inevitable drastic change in the livelihood of the people of Manipur and the huge potential loss both in terms of physical aesthetic because of the Project, all the people of Manipur must stand united against the Project.

The 162.8 metre high Tipaimukh dam proposed to be constructed with North Eastern Electric Power Cooperation (NEEPCO) as work agency at the cost of Rs 600 crores must be stopped at all cost for it will sound the death-knell of the whole Manipuri nation.

He appealed to all the people of Manipur to take part in the protest rally.

Bikramjit noted that once the dam is constructed, numerous villages of Tamenglong district would be submerged under water including the orange producing belt of Barak valley of the district.

This would terminate all prospects of orange plantation.

Quoting experts of such high dams, Bikramjit disclosed that more than 40,000 people would be rendered homeless apart from submerging 168 villages.

Against such devastating the facts, NEEPCO has been deliberately misleading the people with their version of submergence of just 16 villages and their promise of rehabilitating and compensating the displaced villagers, he mentioned.

He further questioned the rationale behind organising public hearing in Mizoram where only 10 percent of the devastating effects of the dam is expected to be felt while it is deliberately sidelining Manipur where 90 percent of the dams ill effects would be incurred.

Such insincere approach of NEEPCO and their failure to garner the mandatory Forest and Environment clearance is a crystal clear evidence that the ill-effects of the dam would far outweigh the often publicised boon from the project, he asserted.

Mentioning that the projected target of NEEPCO is to produce 1500 MW of power from the dam, out of which the State's share is just 180 MW, Bikramjit observed that it is high time to learn the basic lessons from the bitter experiences of Loktak Hydro Electric Project which has caused innumerable and irreparable loss to the livelihood and bio-resources of the State.

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