Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 30:
Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organisation has announced its decision of stepping up the agitation being launched since March 17 in case the Government is not going to take up necessary measures to rehabilitate the would be affected villagers on the line of an acceptable rehabilitation and settlement policy.
Addressing a press conference at the Keishampat office of the Citizens Concern for Dams and Development here today, Chairman of the organisation R Kasa said that the insistence of the Government to complete construction of the Mapithel Dam without making necessary arrangements for rehabilitation of the villagers whose houses, paddy fields and source of livelihood would be submerged under water deserved strong condemnation.
The villagers would be affected by the construction of the dam do not want compensation, but suitable place to live on, land to cultivate and other alternate means of livelihood like hunting.
Until and unless, arrangement for rehabilitation and settlement of the would be affected villagers is assured, construction of the dam would not be allowed.
In case the Government tries to use force, the villagers would not hesitate to lay down their lives for the cause, Kasa said.
It may be recalled here that construction of the Mapithel Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose) project had been approved by the Planning Commission in 1980.The estimated height and width of the dam is respectively 66 metres and 1078 metres.
The dam is expected to submerge around 1215 hectares of land under water.