International Day of Action for Rivers held along Barak River

14 March 2021 :

Stop Building Dams in Manipur - Let the Rivers Flow free - River Day 2021 at Nheng (Langpram) Village, Manipur

A weeklong celebration of the International Day of Action for Rivers 2021 was organized by the Centre for Research and Advocacy Manipur and the JAC against Pabram Dam from 10th till 14th March 2021.

A community meeting along the Barak River in Nheng (Langpram) Village on 11th March and community awareness visits in several villages in the catchment areas of Barak River and Irang River in Tamei areas of Tamenglong District from 12th till 14th March marked the international River day celebration.

The International River Day celebration has been organized considering the increased threats to the free flow and health of the Rivers in Manipur, due to large dam construction, removal of boulders and sand using heavy machineries, destruction of forest in catchment areas of Rivers, increased pollution of Rivers, and other unsustainable practices like using explosives, chemicals, invertor batteries for fishing etc.

Stop Building Dams in Manipur - Let the Rivers Flow free - River Day 2021 at Nheng (Langpram) Village, Manipur

During the Community meeting held along the Barak River at Nheng Village on 11th March, Mr. Enoch Newmai of the JAC against Pabram Dam shared that the Barak River has been targeted for construction of large dams.

He shared that the proposed 190 MW Pabram Hydroelectric Project and 67 MW Khongnem Chakha dam over the Barak River will entail widespread submergence of forest and agriculture land in villages like Luangdi Pabram, Nheng, Khunphung, Piulong, Dikiuram etc in Tamei areas. This will entail livelihood loss, destroy the fish species of Barak River and caused climate change in Tamenglong areas.

Mr. Jiten Yumnam of CRA, Manipur also shared that Rivers of Manipur are targeted for large dam construction, such as the Khongnem Chakha Dam, Pabram Dam, Irang Dam, Tipaimukh dam etc. Commissioned dams like Khuga dam, Mapithel dam, Loktak hydroelectric project already entailed much hardship to indigenous communities.

Removal of boulders and sands using machines and destruction of forest in catchment areas of major rivers already affected the free flow and health of Rivers of Manipur. The community meeting at Nheng called for the free flow of the Barak River and to stop the building of 190 MW Pabram Dam, 67 MW Khongnem Chakha dam, 1500 Tipaimukh dam etc over the River.

Stop Building Dams in Manipur - Let the Rivers Flow free - River Day 2021 at Nheng (Langpram) Village, Manipur

The community awareness visits in several villages noted with concern the widespread logging of forest areas in the catchment areas of Irang River and Barak River in Tamenglong areas.

The River day Celebration is marked by call for free flow of all Rivers, to abandon dam building and stop unsustainable practices affecting the health and life of Rivers and further to protect the forest in catchment areas of Rivers and to uphold indigenous peoples’ intrinsic relationship with Rivers, land and forest in Manipur.

Stop Building Dams in Manipur - Let the Rivers Flow free - River Day 2021 at Nheng (Langpram) Village, Manipur

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