Cycle rally against construction of Tipaimukh Dam
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 19, 2012:
Protesting against the construction of the controversial Tipaimukh Dam, a cycle rally was organised by the Village Women Coordinating Committee along with various other organizations at Sangaithel area today.
The cycle rally was flagged off from Sangaithel Parking, Koireng Chiru Lamkhai and proceeded to 10 different villages covered by the Village Women Coordinating Committee.
The cycle rally passed through Maklang and Tairenpokpi and assembled at Salam Juvenile Club located at Salam Mamang Leikai near Patsoi police station.
The cycle rally was attended by around 100 people including students from various schools and colleges.
During the protest demonstration, the rallyists carried placards and festoons which read "Stop construction of Tipaimukh Dam", "Don't kill the people by constructing big Dams", "Revoke the MoU of Tipaimukh Dam", "Respect the indigenous rights of the people", "We don't want Dams, We want forest" and "Big Dams should not be built in the North East".
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the cycle rally, M Renubala, Secretary, Village Women Coordinating Committee contended that construction of Tipaimukh Dam would do more harm than any good to the people.
The dam which is expected to generate 1500 mega watt of power would destroy the nearby villages affected by the dam.
If the dam is built against the wishes of the people, all the villages in and around the proposed dam area would be submerged under water, thereby creating many problems for the dam-affected people.
Not only this, around 25,422.22 paris of land and forest will be destroyed.
As such, Tipaimukh dam should be constructed.
She also informed that a memorandum has already been submitted to the Prime Minister highlighting various demands including urgent revocation of the MoU signed between state government, NHPC and SJVNL on April 28, 2010 and reaffirmed on October 22, 2011; revocation of the Environment Clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, GoI on October 24, 2008 etc.