ADB's Imphal ring road controversies

Jiten Yumnam *

A map showing the route of Imphal Ring road :: Pix - TSE

India's aggressive pursuance of Look East policy to expand trade and commerce with South East Asian countries in perpetuation of its neoliberal policies initiated in 1990's impacts Manipur vividly with series of large scale 'development' projects initiated in its terrains and frontiers. International Financial Institutions (IFIs), primarily the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation are increasingly synonymous with Manipur's so called 'development', with their tacit financial and technical supports on range of sectors, viz, roads, tourism, power, governance etc.

While the Government of Manipur projects such facilitation as inherent to reduce poverty, inequality and to eliminate all forms of barriers of its under-development, there's tacit silence on undeniable aspect of such financing, the need to adhere to best international development norms, including the safeguard policies of these IFIs. Deep controversy persists in project financing by these IFIs across Asia and the long terms implications of their financings are often overlooked.

Road projects in Manipur financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) pursued under the North East State Roads Investment Program (NESRIP) through its South Asia Sub Regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Regional Road Connectivity project, already lands in controversies. Several communities affected by the ADB's Imphal Ring Road plan already expressed their objections and concerns. Communities affected by ADB road project in Kasom Khullen already challenged ADB's violations in Manipur High court.

Processes to acquire land already commence with due official communications even as consultation and consent of communities is absent. Indeed, the project director, NESRIP, Public Works Department, Government of Manipur already wrote to the Deputy Commissioner of Imphal West and East District on 5 May 2014 to commence land acquisition. Subsequently, officials of the Revenue and Settlement department already commence surveys and collection of land records in villages along the Langol foothills and other areas affected by the plan.

The proposed Imphal Ring road, which will be 46 Km long and width of 30 metres, is planned to be constructed within a period of five years at an estimated cost of around Rs. 346 Crores Indian Rupees, with expenditures envisaged at 8.17 Crores Rupees for each kilometre. The project proponents reasoned pursuance of India's Look East Policy will enormously increase traffic volume and deepen problems and hence the need for Imphal ring road.

The Public Works Department, Government of Manipur issued tender notice on 10 September 2014 inviting Consultants to take up feasibility study and preparation of Detailed Project Report for the project. A team of experts from the EGIS International, France led by Transport specialist Eyan Jennings already inspected the condition of roads and crossings in Imphal town on 6 November 2014 to support the project. Representatives of Mr. MK Mohanty, Resettlement Specialist, appoint as consultant by ADB for the project commenced surveys for rehabilitation in Kongba, Langthabal, Langjing, Langol and other areas. Affected communities objected to the survey due to unilateral survey process, lack of consultation, limited impact assessment and the prospect of undervaluing their assets, as had happened in ADB loaned road project in Kasom Khullen in Eastern Manipur.

The Imphal Town Ring Road project will affect residential areas in Kongba Nandeibam Leikai, Langthabal area, Langol area in Imphal West and East District. The total number of families and agriculture land area to be affected by the project is yet to be fully ascertained. More than Sixty household in Langjing Achouba area will be uprooted completely. An initial assessment indicates that project will affect more than 1000 acres of prime agricultural land in Kongba, Bashikhong, Langthabal, Langol, Lamphel etc in Imphal West and East Districts.

Around 500 families will also be affected in the villages of Tharon, Thangmeiband, Tarung, Laimanai, Neikanglong, Grace Colony, Vaiphei Enclave etc, inhabited by various communities, such as Vaiphei, Paite, Meitei, Rongmei etc. The project will undermine food sovereignty of Manipur by conscripting huge prime agriculture land. The project will destroy part of sacred Langthabal, Langjing, Chingmeirong Cheiraoching and Langol Hills and adjoining forests, which are associated with the history and folklores of Meitei and other indigenous peoples. Many families depending on Lamphelpat wetlands for agriculture and fishing will also be affected. Community grounds, water bodies, forest areas, rich vegetation and other religious structures will also be affected. There's no participatory detailed socio, economic, health and environmental impact assessment and to define clear options with due consultation with affected communities.

The failure to consult and take, free, prior and informed consent of affected communities is a significant violation of indigenous peoples' rights outlined in UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007. Affected communities are worried that surveyors from ADB's consultants and Government revenue department intrude in their villages without consulting them. There have been no efforts on the part of the Government, ADB and their consultants to reach out to affected communities and to inform details of the project and all possible implications on their rights. The government of Manipur and ADB also failed to apply its Safeguard Policy Statement of 2009. The ADB, cannot under any circumstances, exempt implementation and violate their own safeguard policy Statement for the protection of indigenous peoples' rights and environment etc in Manipur.

One of the serious concerns is the feasibility of the Imphal Ring Road plan with its route concentration right in Imphal City areas itself. One wonders how a Ring road cuts through the new Manipur Secretariat and the Manipur High Court Complex, located right in the middle of Imphal town. Strange route demarcations criss-crossing in zig zag pattern and oddly circumventing narrow conspicuous strip of land in Mantripukhri area left many bewildered? There are concerns the routes are crafted specially to accommodate the concerns and to exclude properties or localities of those rich and privileged few with well connections and patronages of those in power. Hence, any development process that benefits few elites and corporate bodies while victimizing communities at large is simply anti people and cannot be construed as real development. Indeed, an IFI's thrust in Manipur is promotion of trade and private sector participation.

The involvement of private consultant firms and private developers and International Financial Institutions necessary does not mean development and efficient service. The French Government support Imphal Sewerage Project has been condemned widely for its extensive delays, environmental impacts and human casualties. The project still remains incomplete and already claimed several lives in accidents due to the multiple holes left uncovered and unattended. The Manipur Sericulture Project financed by the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) is also laden with failure and wide corruption aside from other controversies.

Several affected communities already publicly expressed objections to the road widening plan given its alarming multi faceted scale of impacts. The Kongba Makha Nandeibam Leikai development committee in a meeting on the proposed eviction plan held a meeting on 21 September 2014 last strongly opposed the project as the project implementation and subsequent land acquisition process failed to take their consent. They already sacrificed their land for road construction along the Kongba River banks. And to additional acquire 30 metres at a stretch will only extinguish their habitation space and undermine their identity. Further affected communities of Langthabal submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur to reconsider the Ring road alignments and to consider alternative routes. Residents of Langjing Achouba and Langol foothills areas from Tharon to Lanthungching also expressed objections. Despite community objections, project authorities and ADB failed to consult and discuss alternatives to the project with affected communities.

The area demarcated for land acquisition in Kongba, Langthabal, Langol and Langjing etc lies along the flood plains of Kongba River and the Nambul River. Many communities who eke out their livelihood through farming, fishing and small scale economic activity will lose their livelihood and constitute a clear violation of right to life, as guaranteed both by the Article 21 of Constitution of India, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Any forced displacement will constitute violation of Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and provisions of UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples rights. The impact of displacement will spiral into other large multifaceted impacts.

It's high time all denizens of Manipur introspect if Manipur ever will ever leap to progress with credit financings of 'development' projects by IFI's. Will it ever led to reducing poverty gaps and increased inequality within Manipur itself. The marked rise in inequality in concentration of wealth is an alarming reality and with ADB's thrust for private sector involvement, corporatization of development and accumulation of wealth to few privileges will simply be an obvious reality.

The direct implication of increased loans in Manipur, of increasing debt of Manipur and its people to Asian Development Bank and other IFIs has never been discussed. There is already a process to withdraw the financial arrangement of central support of 90% to only 10% in recent years, which means 90% of Manipur had to seek external loans to meet its development financing. With Manipur listed as one of the most corrupted state with limited resources, the increasing investment will only lead to imposition of more tax from its people. With a range of loan and financings by IFIs, Manipur is simply destined to be trapped in a vicious circle of debt, conflict and an uncertain future.

The ADB financed Imphal Ring Road should not be constructed without the free, prior and informed consent of all affected communities. The Government of Manipur and the Asian Development Bank should provide all the necessary and related information on the plan, viz, the DPR, Impact Assessments, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Plan. The project authorities should consider and accept the alternatives suggested by all affected communities. There should be no forceful acquisition of agriculture land, residential areas, wetlands, forest and hills of Manipur for the project. The UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples Rights, 2007 should guide all development decision concerning Imphal Ring road plan and other projects financed by ADB and other IFIs in Manipur.