CRAM holds meeting with villagers
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 20 2019:
The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRAM) and the Phalong Village Authority organised a community meeting on "Protection of Land and Environment in Tamenglong Areas" with focus on Impact of ADB Funded Kangchup to Tamenglong Road on September 18 at Phalong village, Tamenglong district.
The community meeting was organized to assess the impacts of ADB financed road projects, especially the Kangchup to Tamenglong road project and to assert the rights of communities affected by the road project.
The villagers of Phalong part I, II and III and Diluan Villages attended the meet and shared on the social, environment and other impacts of the road project in their respective villages, said a statement of CRAM.
Lunkhuangnang, Chairman of Diluan village of Tamenglong district shared that the impacts of the ADB road project on the land and forest of affected villagers have intensified.
The ADB road project has disturbed the flora and fauna of their village land, leading to destruction of their natural resources.
The careless dumping of mud and stones at the water ways due to cutting of mountainous rocks has contaminated the rivers and streams in their village.
This has resulted in extinction fishes, crabs and other water bodies.
The canals and terrace fields are also badly affected; therefore, the villagers are concern about their future sustenance as the project will take quite a while for its completion, said CRAM.
Hurangpao Panmei, Assistant Pastor at Diluan village and others including Chingjian Kamei of Phalong Village, Jiten Yumnam, secretary, CRAM attended the meet which resolved to apprise the Government and the Asian Development Bank to desist from direct disposal of earth, rocks and other debris from road cutting in their agriculture land, forest and water sources and to address the grievances of villagers.
There should be no displacement of villagers of Phalong and Diluan village without their consent.
The villagers also resolved to urge the Government to compensate and rehabilitate affected villagers for the loss of their land and other survival sources before acquiring their land and work commencement, said CRAM.