Forest advisory disapproves diversion of forest land for Tipaimukh Project
Mega project runs into FAC roadblock
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal

New Delhi, July 26 2013 : Putting up yet another road block to the implementation of the controversial 1500 MW capacity Tipaimukh Hydroelectric Project in Manipur , the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) in its meeting held on July 11 and 12 in Delhi has come out strongly against diversion of 22, 777.50 hectares of forest land required for construction of the multipurpose dam.

"Our disagreement is on the grounds of socio and ecological impacts" said a Forest Official from the MoEF while talking to The Sangai Express over phone.

The Committee after a detailed deliberation concluded that requirement of forest land for Tipaimukh Dam project is large and is disproportionate to its power generation capacity.

The committee noted that besides the environment and social impact of the diversion, the cost of diversion and the overall project cost will far outweigh the benefits likely to be accrued/acquired from the project.

FAC stated that employment envisaged by the project for 826 persons is not commensurate with the loss of land and natural resources, which is the main source of livelihood of the tribal populations in Manipur, where a total of 2,027 scheduled tribe population will be affected by the project.

Settlement near the Barak river, where the Tipaimukh project is set to come up

Total land requirement including 1551.60 hectares falling within Mizoram is 24,329 hectares which is more one than one fifth of the total 118,184 hectares of forest land diverted for execution of 497 hydel projects in India after FAC came into effect, the committee noted .

The forests area proposed for diversion is home to 7816931 trees and 0.27 lakhs bamboo culms and several endangered species of flora and fauna.

The committee further recommended that the user agency may explore feasibility to construct smaller dams involving smaller diversion of forests lands.

Given the vast forest land requirement, the Forest Committee had earlier in January last year formed a sub committee comprising of experts for a spot impact assessment and to come out with a suggestion to minimize the forest land requirement for the project but due to pressure from the Ministry of Power and User agency for the project, the FAC went ahead with examining the proposed diversion of forest for Tipaimukh HEP, the FAC stated.

Estimated to cost Rs 5,885.00 crore, the 1500 MW capacity Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydro Electric Project is proposed to be built 500 meters downstream of the confluence of the river Tuivai from Mizoram and river Barak from Manipur.

The 162.80 metre high rock fill dam is envisaged to control flood in Assam valley and generate hydro electricity to the power starved Manipur and Northeastern States at large.

The implementing partners include Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited and NEEPCO which replaced NHPC along with the Govt of Manipur.