Of CAT, hide and seek
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 27 2015 -
The controversy over the concealment of Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) plan of Mapithel Dam Thoubal Multi Purpose Project from the landowners of affected areas by the State Government should not be treated as a minor irritant to the entire controversy surrounding the dam.
The decision of the Catchment Area Committee (CAC) Ukhrul District under MDAVO to raise the issue has been prompted by the allegation that the CAT plan had been hidden from the rightful landowners/villages of Ukhrul District despite the contention that it is going to affect 565 sq km of forest areas belonging to 44 villages in the district once the dam is commissioned.
The CAC feels that the Government by concealing the CAT has kept the rightful landowners in the dark over issues related to their livelihood and use of land and forest resources.
The committee said that it was in the process of deciding future course of action and if the Government fails to come clean on the plan.
While trying to grapple with the finer details and nuances of the issue from a localized perspective, what should be kept in mind is that such phenomenon one gets to see in the State cannot be delinked from the process of globalization triggered by neo-liberal reforms since the 1990s in India.
While analyzing the advantages brought about by liberalization of the economy, policies related to exploiting the natural resources and land use have to be scrutinized from certain perspective which takes into consideration the views of those who would be directly affected.
Given the worldwide resistance against building of big dams and hydro-projects based on impending impoverishment of those who are likely to be displaced, doubts has been raised over the efficacy of bringing in policies driven by powerful entities in the name of development.
As mentioned elsewhere, the question here should no longer be based on the quantum of compensation or even the consequent polices of dealing with the displaced.
The miseries of displacement and woes of the communities cannot be swept under the carpet in the name of development.
No hydro power plants, dams, special economic zones, industrial corridors and other infrastructure projects should be envisaged without assessing environmental and livelihood sustainability.
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