Public consultation on Tipaimukh dam held
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 09 2013: Affirming that forest, land, rivers and other natural resources of Manipur are crucial for the sustenance of endemic flora and fauna and the survival of several indigenous communities, the participants of the one day public consultation on "Tipaimukh dam and Forest Clearance" held today at Manipur Press Club resolved that the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Government of India should desist from granting Environment Clearance for the proposed Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project as this would amount to clear cut violation of the rights of indigenous peoples in Manipur.

The public consultation was organised by Citizens Concern for Dams and Development, Committee on Land and Natural Resources, Committee on the Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur, North East Dialogue Forum and the Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Dam Project.

The consultation also resolved that FAC of the MoEF should also take cognizance that all Indigenous Peoples of Manipur have full rights over their lands and resources, as also recognised by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 .

The FAC of the MoEF should refrain from making recommendations for Compensatory Afforestation as Manipur is such a small State with huge pressure on land and forest already and the forest to be submerged by Tipaimukh HEP is so huge that it is irrational to compensate similar areas in other parts of Manipur with afforestation.

Amongst others, the consultation also resolved that Manipur cannot afford to sacrifice its forest and to fell 7.8 million trees and 27,000 bamboo groves in Manipur for a mega project which will wrought widespread havoc on environment and suffering on peoples' lives and future.

The MoEF should recommend revoking the MoU signed on Tipaimukh Dam by the Government of Manipur with Government of Manipur, National Hydroelectric Project and Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited on April 28 , 2010, reaffirmed on October 22, 2011 .

The Government of India should ensure that the proposed 1500 MW Tipaimukh HEP is not constructed without the Free, Prior and Informed Consent of indigenous peoples, the meet resolved.

The MoEF should revoke the Environment Clearance Granted for Tipaimukh Dam in October 2008 based on the stern objections by the affected communities in all the five public hearings from 2004 till 2008 .

The MoEF should also recommend that the proposed Tipaimukh dam should adhere to the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, 2007 and the recommendations from the UN CERD Committee on Tipaimukh Dam in 2011 .

While affirming that indigenous peoples' self determined rights over land, forest and resources and to develop and define all development priorities in Manipur as also outlined in the UN Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007, the meet also expressed concern that for the possible "Forest Clearance", the FAC of MoEF is relying for reports of a one day aerial survey of officials of Government of India, and also the request from the Government of Manipur and the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation, all of which recommended for felling 7.8 million trees and 27,000 bamboo in Manipur without proper and comprehensive impact assessment due to proposed Tipaimukh dam construction.

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