International River day at Lairouching
- 14th March 2023 -

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International River day at Lairouching

The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRA) along with the Lairouching Village Authority and the Loktak Fisheries Welfare Association organized the celebration of the International River day at Lairouching Village along the banks of the Barak River in Manipur on14th March 2023. The celebration was held with the theme, “Let all the Rivers Flow Free in Manipur”.

Mr. Jiten Yumnam, Secretary of CRA, Manipur, sharing the key note address shared the importance of Rivers as source of culture and livelihood of indigenous peoples. The international river day is being celebrated to protect intrinsic relationship of Rivers with peoples and to ensure that rivers from pollution and to prevent dam building that can kill Rivers.

The construction of 67 MW Khongnem Chakha Dam and 190 MW Pabram dam will submerge massive tract of agriculture and forest land in areas inhabited by the Liangmai and Maram Tribes in North Manipur. Indigenous peoples’ rights should be fully recognized before introduction of any kind of development processes affecting the land, river and forest in Manipur.

Mr. Solomon, Member, Village Authority, Lairouching Village Authority shared that the proposed 67 MW Khongnem Chakha dam will affect at least Seven villages belonging to the Maram and Liangmai Tribes in Maram, Chakha and Willong areas. The consent of the villagers should be taken before undertaking any project over their land and territories.

Mr. Themson Jajo, Environmentalist emphasized the importance of valuing the role of Rivers. Rivers are life. He stressed that Rivers have right to flow free and the right to perform its role to promote ecosystem and the right to be free from pollution. He lamented that the construction of large dams like the Mapithel dam disturbed the natural flow of Thoubal River and severed the intrinsic relationship of indigenous peoples with the river for fishing, collection of sand and stone and for access to the water etc.

International River day at Lairouching

Mr. Mothel Saka from Thawai Village shared that the social and cultural relationship of communities in Mapithel valley has been severed by the Mapithel dam. Dam building instead of benefiting the people only unleashed suffering and miseries to the people. Dams are promoted in the pretext of development but caused impoverishment and worsened inequality in Manipur. Dams led to submergence and deposition of sand and silt in agriculture land in Mapithel areas. He recommended communities not to sacrifice land for projects that will entail suffering to them.

Heisnam Chaoba, Secretary, Loktak Fisheries Welfare Association, shared that the protection of Rivers in Manipur crucial to promote the health of wetlands, such as the Loktak Wetlands in Manipur. The Rivers and wetlands provide fished and other seasonal food. However, the construction of hydroelectric dam projects destroyed the livelihood of people in Loktak wetlands. Corporate bodies like the National Hydroelectric Power Project only benefited from dam building while communities in Loktak suffer.

Later, the participants of the International Rivers Day celebration organized a symbolic mobilization at the Barak River portion in Lairouching village and raised slogans such as, “Let the Barak River Flow Free”, “The Rivers, Forest and Land is our Life”, “ We say No to 67 MW Khongnem Chakha Dam”

International River day at Lairouching

Centre For Research And Advocacy, Manipur
Jupiter Yambem Centre,
Paona Bazar,
Imphal, Manipur,
India 795001