Senapati rally against Tipaimukh Dam
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 27 2012:
Objecting to the proposal of constructing the controversial Tipaimukh Dam in between Tamenglong and Churachandpur district as well as construction of Khongnem Chakha HE-Project at Maram in Senapati district, a public rally was held in Senapati town today.
Jointly organised by Senapati District Women Association, Manipur and Rural Development Association, Senapati, the rally was flagged off from the traffic point of Senapati Bazaar and passed through in and around Senapati town before reassembling at Senapati bazaar.
The rallyists were seen carrying placards and festoons inscribed with slogans like "Go back NHPC", "Tipaimukh Dam cannot be constructed without the consent of people", "NO use sacrificing 78 lakhs of trees for mere compensation", "Lets save our Rivers", "We don't like any projects like Loktak project", "Revoke the MoU signed between Government of Manipur, National Hydroelectric Project and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited for construction of Tipaimukh Dam", "No mega project in North East" and "Stop proposed Khongnem Chakha HE-Project at Maram, Senapati" .
All shops and establishment in Senapati bazaar remained closed and all the street venders including Meeteis, tribals and other non-Manipuri people also joined the public rally.
After the rally, a public meeting was held Senapati bazaar during which many speakers pointed out that besides causing serious impact on the existing ecosystem and bio-diversity, construction of Tipaimukh dam would affect the community livelihood, survival and exacerbate species loss by felling of 7.8 million trees and bamboos.
It would also impinge on 25,822.22 hectres of forest land in Manipur.
This would be a paramount loss which would be impossible to be recover.
Resolutions adopted in the meeting were submitted to the Prime Minister of India in the form of a memorandum through Deputy Commissioner of Senepati.