Protection of Land and Environment in Tamenglong Areas : Community meeting

19th September, 2019

Protection of Land and Environment in Tamenglong Areas : Community meeting

The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur and the Phalong Village Authority organized a community meeting on “Protection of Land and Environment in Tamenglong Areas” with a focus on Impact of ADB Funded Kangchup to Tamenglong Road on 18th September 2019 at Phalong Village, Tamenglong District, Manipur.

The community meeting was organized to assess the impacts of ADB financed road projects, especially the Kangchup to Tamenglong road project in Manipur and to assert the rights of communities affected by the road project. The villagers of Phalong part I, II and III and Diluan Villages attended the meet and shared on the social, environment and other impacts of the road project in their respective villages.

Mr. Lunkhuangnang, Chairman of Diluan Village of Tamenglong District shared that the impacts of the ADB road project on the land and forest of affected villagers have intensified. The ADB road project has disturb the flora and fauna of their village land, leading to destruction of their natural resources. The careless dumping of mud and stones at the water ways due to cutting of mountainous rocks has contaminated the rivers and streams in their village. This has resulted in extinction fishes, crabs and other water bodies. The canals and terrace fields are also badly affected; therefore, the villagers are concern about their future sustenance as the project will take quite a while for its completion. Villagers’ come to realise that the impacts had grown beyond their comprehension.

Mr. Hurangpao Panmei, Assistant Pastor at Diluan Village shared that the road project is no longer a sustainable development as the project has destroyed the natural environment, livelihood sources of villagers and brings disunity to the villagers. Compensation of a few amounts was given to some selective persons for extensive damage of villagers’ land by the project and the real impacts remains unaddressed till today. The future of the villagers is bleak for all their livelihood opportunities in each dimension are being forcefully taken away in the name of development.

Protection of Land and Environment in Tamenglong Areas : Community meeting

Mr. Chingjan Kamei of Phalong Village expressed concerns as a representative of Affected Property Association, that they have no idea on how to approach the issue even though multiple damages are being done by project authorities. He said the ADB road construction should be resumed only after all the affected villagers are provided adequate compensation and rehabilitation for damages inflicted on their land.

Mr. Jiten Yumnam, Secretary, Centre for Research and Advocacy shared that the Government of Manipur and the corporate bodies involved in the ADB financed Kangchup to Tamenglong Road project should minimize all forms of social, environmental and other impacts on communities and emphasized the need for full compliance to the ADB’s Safeguard policies, especially to improve the lives of indigenous communities affected by projects financed by them and to adhere to human rights and sustainable development standards.

The Villagers attending the community meeting resolved to apprise the Government and the Asian Development Bank to desist from direct disposal of earth, rocks and other debris from road cutting in their agriculture land, forest and water sources and to address the grievances of villagers. There should be no displacement of villagers of Phalong and Diluan village without their consent.

The villagers also resolved to urge the Government to compensate and rehabilitate affected villagers for the loss of their land and other survival sources before acquiring their land and work commencement & to consult and take consent of villagers in the project implementation and to address the grievances of affected communities.

Protection of Land and Environment in Tamenglong Areas : Community meeting

(Sanaton Laishram)
President
Centre For Research And Advocacy, Manipur
Jupiter Yambem Centre,
Paona Bazar,
Imphal Manipur India
795001
www.cramanipur.wordpress.com