Bodies object to forest clearance for Tipaimukh Dam
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 08 2013:
While condemning the act of placing 1500 MW Tipaimukh project for forest clearance in the meeting of Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) on 11-12 July, 2013, People's Platform Secretariat (PPS), Manipur Village Women Coordinating Committee (VWCOC) have urged the State and Central Governments to stop issuing Environmental Clearance for construction of the proposed dam in considering of the potential devastation to be caused by the project.
The proposed Tipaimukh hydroelectric dam, which is going to be constructed in a highly seismic zone, would submergence 277 sq KM of prime forest land besides destruction of 82.47lakh trees in Manipur.
Requirements of 24,329 hectares of forest land for the project will destroy vast swathes of forests and bamboo clumps on lands that are used by indigenous communities for livelihood for many centuries, P Inao Convenor of PPS and M Renuka, Secretary of VWCOC pointed out in separate statements.
Besides, the dam would also destroying of thousand of floras and faunas in around 300 sq.km of forestland in Churachandpur and Tamenglong districts, the statements added.
Appealing the FAC to pay regard to the will of the people of Manipur and other neighbouring states, the two organisations have also asked the committee to respect the rights of the indigenous people to land, water, river and other natural resources as laid down in the UN Declaration on Rights of the Indigenous People, 1997 .