Woes of Mapithel Dam downstream affected people Protest meeting recommends impact assessment
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 17 2015: The JAC for Mapithel Dam Downstream Affected People organized a protest meeting against Mapithel dam at Tumukhong village, Imphal East district on August 16 and for rehabilitation and resettlement of villages affected by Mapithel dam in downstream areas.

The protest meet was organized in the backdrop of impending threats of Mapithel dam break due to hasty efforts of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Government of Manipur to fill the Mapithel Dam reservoirs.

The protest meet attended by villagers of Mapithel dam downstream villages such as Nungbrang, Laikhong, Itham, Moirangpurel, Tumukhong, Keithelmanbi, Moirangpurel was also addressed by representatives of the Human Rights Initiative and Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur.

Woes of Mapithel Dam downstream affected people Protest meeting recommends impact assessment

Kh Ibocha of Nungbrang village shared how the Mapithel dam has rendered many villagers in the downstream sleepless for many nights due to filling up of Mapithel dam without completing the dam.

The leaks appeared from the half completed dam has compelled many villagers to seek refuge in higher and open grounds.

Villagers are compelled to become refugees in their own land, he said.

Indrani of Itham village shared how the villagers lose their livelihood after the blockade of Thoubal river.

She said that they can no longer collect sand and stone brought down by the river.

The Mapithel dam will bring misery and hardship among the villagers, she added.

Y Sachi of Laikhong said the Mapithel dam is anti-people.

He said the dam authorities failed to consider the downstream impacts.

The plight of downstream affected communities are never considered.

Jiten Yumnam of CRAM, shared how the Mapithel dam is devoid of any downstream impact assessment.

Ensuring the free and unhindered flow of Thoubal River is highly crucial to promote communities rights over their land and water and to ensure their rightful survival.

Mapithel dam today represents a clear instance of development injustice where the project proponents are never punished for their multiple violations, he said.

Joykumar Wahengbam of HRI stressed the need to fully reflect on the multiple violations of Mapithel dam, social, environmental, economic and cultural etc.

All downstream affected communities should be properly rehabilitated and resettled in accordance to their wish and aspiration, he said.

Later, the participants agreed to resolve to conduct downstream impact assessment and to rehabilitate and resettle all affected downstream communities as per their wishes and aspirations.

The participants also agreed to urge upon authorities to let the Thoubal River flow free and to review Mapithel dam.