Dam to affect 595 hectares of forest land in Ukhrul
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Sobhapati Samom

Chadong (Ukhrul), October 21 2013: Around 595 hectares of forest area mostly in Manipur's Ukhrul district would be affected once the Thoubal multi-purpose project is made operational.

The revelation was made during a day-long seminar on Tribal rights on Forest held here at the picturesque hill village, about 40 km north east of Imphal under Ukhrul dist under the aegis of Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organisation (MDAVO) .

Most of the speakers in the seminar said the people in the region entirely depends their livelihood on forest as there has been a close community-forest relationship since time immemorial.

Jubilate Kazingmei, Program Director of Volunteers for Village Development; Bharat Lal, a New Delhi based representative of NGO International rivers, some research scholars and affected villagers of Chadong village shared their views, comments and observations in connection with the use and customary protection of forest land during the seminar.

"In fact, the rights and duties are two sides of the same coin.

As we assert for our rights to own land, forest and other natural resources, we must also realize our responsibility for sustainable use of the same", Program Director Jubilate observed, and added, "The practice of hunting, fishing during breeding season and fishing by poisoning rivers should be strictly prohibited" .

Last month, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Ngamthang of the state while giving speech during a function in Senapati district, had opined that project would begin operation in the early part of 2015 .

The project which was conceived and started its construction since late eighties aims to provide 10 million gallons of drinking water to Imphal residents along with enhancing irrigation network to cover 21,862 hectares cultivation sites and generate 7.5 megawatt electricity.

It is also said that once the dam which is being constructed with a height of 66m and a 1074m long earth dam over the Thoubal river also known as Yang-Wui-kong among the Tangkhuls at Maphou area, is also likely to submerge 6 villages besides affecting 3 more.

Comment