Dam affected people demand immediate rehabilitation
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 29 2011:
The multi-purpose Mapithel dam project which have affected villagers who are demanding immediate completion of the expert committee review on rehabilitation and resettlement (RnR) before commissioning of the project.
The Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh led Secular Progressive Front ministry is planning to commission the project which aims to provide irrigation,water and power by March next year.
The multi-purpose dam with a project cost of ' 715.8-crore had taken up since the eighties at Mapithel area in Phungyar subdivision of Ukhrul district targeting to irrigate 21,000 hectares of cultivable land besides giving 10 million gallons of drinking water every day and supply 7.5MW of power.
"The state government's move to commission the project without providing the RnR packages to the affected villagers one year ahead of the completion of the project violates the Term of Reference(TOR)of the project",secretary of the Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organisation(MDAVO) said.
"We've also filed a writ petition to Gauhati High Court last month in this regard" .
In its petition,MDAVO seeks a court directive to the government to stop construction of the dam until the policy of RnR of the villagers is reviewed and implemented before the commissioning of the project.
"But so far there's no counter affidavit from the government side", said another MDAVO representative.
With the commissioner of Irrigation and Flood Control Department(IFCD) as its chairman,an expert review committee was constituted on January 18,2008 to examine the review of RnR program of the affected villages, the MDAVO secretary said.
But the committee couldn't function properly as the government did not take enough proactive interest in establishing TOR for the review, he alleged.
Instead the government attempted to take up a divide and rule policy among the affected villagers through threats and luring to contract works.
The move to take up urgent finalization of rehabilitation package of 'Lamlai Khunou and Chadong' out of other affected villages such as Sangkai, Zalengbung, Sikibung, Thawai, Riha, Ramrei Ato(Lamlai Khullen) and Maphou by IFCD Commissioner's June 13 office memorandum directly ignores the expert committee review process, he further alleged.
The project would affect more than 1500 families.
MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing of Phungyar assembly constituency who was also present the interaction session,observed that the villagers are not opposing the dam but justice to the demands of affected villagers as per TOR of the project.
He added the demands should not be ignored.