Mapithel dam downstream concerns MDAVO
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 09 2015 :
Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organisation (MDAVO) has expressed deep concern over the plights of the people living in the downstream of Mapithel dam.
Expressing support to the demands of an alternative livelihood, the organisation in a statement said that it is mandatory to arrange life safety measures for the people living in the immediate downstream of any dam.
MDAVO would extend full support and co-operation to the ongoing agitation and dam construction boycott, the statement said.
It further said that the issue of downstream people is a result of the absence of a detailed impact assessment (DIA) of the project, which MDAVO has been demanding since 2003 .
It is a fact that there is no DIA concerning socio-cultural, economy, livelihood, health, forest, river, water back and environment perspective for upstream and downstream areas, the statement said.
Apart from the shortage of water and livelihood, downstream people are apprehensive about possible dam collapse, it added.
Unfortunately, there is no seismic precautionary measure although Mapithel valley range falls within the Seismic Zone 5 of India.
Moreover, people are also worried about possible dam collapse due to the reservoir-induced seismic (RIS) .
People who have been taking shelter at the relief camp since July 23 are facing the inconvenience of acute shortage of basic amenities, MDAVO said.
As such, the Government must look into these problems at the earliest, it demanded.
In connection with the observance of World Indigenous Peoples Day, MDAVO appealed to the State Government to adhere to the UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples Rights 2007, stick to the recommendation of World Commission on Dams 2000 and UN Special Rapporteurs recommendations.