Meet resolves to stand against mega dams construction
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, February 24 2015:
A one-day media consultation on "violation of Mapithel Dam" held at Manipur Press Club today passed an 11-point resolution which included among others to struggle unitedly against construction of mega dams in Manipur.
The media consultation programme was jointly organized by Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers' Organization, Citizens Concern for Dams and Development and Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur.
Among the 11-point resolution passed by the media consultation, some are, to support the demands of the villagers affected by Mapithel dam construction and press the State Government to stop the work of blocking Thoubal river as part of filling up Mapithel dam reservoir.
All works related with the dam should be stopped until the environmental and social impacts and all rehabilitation processes were fully addressed in accordance with the rights, wishes and aspirations of the affected villagers, the meet resolved.
To urge Manipur Government to revive the expert review committee set up in 2008 for conducting all holistic impact assessments based on the resettlement and rehabilitation of the affected villagers, it further resolved.
To stop militarization process in the dam area which the authority has taken up with an intention to complete the dam by force, to stop all involuntarily displacements of indigenous peoples affected by the dam were also included among the resolutions.
It also decided to urge the Manipur Government not to take up canal construction of Mapithel dam at Heirok area of Thoubal district.
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) should take into consideration the multiple violations of impacts of Mapithel Dam and to review their plan to finance the water supply plan from Mapithel dam to Imphal , till the unresolved issues like environmental, social impacts etc are fully resolved.
The consultation further resolved to insist the State Government to fully implement the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples in 2009 to Government of India, to take free, prior and informed consent of all affected indigenous peoples on Mapithel dam construction.
The provisions of the UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples Rights, 2007 and the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams, 2000 should be respected while taking up large scale hydro project over rivers in Manipur.
Resolutions to urge the State Government to repeal the Manipur Hydroelectric Power Policy, 2012 and revocation of all MoUs on mega dams including the proposed 1500 MW Tipaimukh dam were other resolutions passed in the media consultation.