Mapithel Dam affected villagers refuse to leave
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 28 2015 :
Even as large tracts of paddy fields have been inundated on account of closing the gates of Mapithel Dam, people of Chadong village have resolved not to leave their native village under any circumstances.
Chadong villagers showed the flooded areas in the upstream of the dam to a team of media persons today.
Once the dam begins functioning, the whole village will be submerged under water, they stated.
The villagers have appealed to the State Government to delay the functioning of the dam till the arrangement of rehabilitation and resettlement of the villagers are completed.
Dominic, a villager, alleged that the villagers were not notified about the closing of the dam gates by the authorities.
Most of the crops, he added, have been damaged owing to excessive flow of water from the dam.
The Mapithel dam, once its starts functioning will generate 7.5MW of power and 45.46 million litres of drinking water per day.
The project also aims to provide water to 21,862 hectare of land for irrigation.
On the other hand, the functioning of the dam would also mean the sacrifice of a 1215 hectares of agricultural land including 595 hectares of forest area.