Source: Hueiyen News Service
Tamenglong, September 05, 2010:
People of Tamenglong village on Sunday staged a protest rally against Tipaimukh Dam construction organized by Community Welfare Forum Tamenglong.
The rally participated by many children and women started from Guiram bazaar to Church Centre and later submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister, Government of Manipur through the Deputy Commissioner.
Prior to the rally the Community Welfare Forum Tamenglong explained to the young children and women why they should strongly oppose the construction of Tipaimukh Dam.
The rallies held banners and placards which read like 'No to Tipaimukh Dam', 'Don't damage our lives', 'Save our environment', 'Let Barak River flow freely', 'Save our environment, save our future', 'Our land our blood' and 'No to Tipaimukh Dam Yes to Indigenous life'.
Spokesman Guitiang Pamei said that if the dam is constructed other parts of India may be benefited, but, the affected people will have little benefits adding that losses will be greater then benefits.
|
If the dam is constructed, water would submerge large land areas and in turn other land and forest areas will be acquired to prevent soil erosion.
Consequently we will have little land left for cultivation and we will be prevented from cutting wood, and the rich variety of wild life and medicinal plants which had been preserved by our fore fathers will disappear, the spokesman said.
The spokesman pointed out that till date the government of India has not spelt out the merits and demerits of the construction of the dam, nor has it explained the compensation modalities.
The memorandum says the forum will stop any attempt to construct the controversial dam and warned that the Community Welfare Forum Tamenglong will fight tooth and nail against construction of the dam.
The memo said that one's identity is shown by indigenous rivers, land, culture, forests and the heritage of our forefathers.
If the Tipaimukh Dam is constructed the people living in the affected areas will lose it all.
The fertile soil which is the back bone of the people will remain submerged.
The rich flora and fauna, medicinal plants and other natural treasures will be lost stated the memo signed by Solomon Pamei and RK Jaojianpou Chairman and Secretary of Community Welfare Forum Tamenglong.
The authority also failed to take the consent (Free Prior Informed Consent) of the affected villages, the memo alleges.