MDAVO slams Govt for defying NTG Court order
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 27 2015: Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers' Organisation (MDAVO) slammed the State Government for defying the order of National Green Tribunal (NGT) dated July 28, 2015 in the case appeal number 4 of 2014 in the matter of Themrei Tuithung and others V/S State of Manipur and others.

In a statement issued by MDAVO vice chairman Themson Jajo said the NGT has issued the order directing the State Government to construct "protective bund" to save Chadong village.

State Government is liable for contempt case for not complying with the order.

Hence, the concerned officers/authorities are answerable before the NGT court for deliberate non compliance of the order.

MDAVO slams Govt for defying NTG Court order

Themson said the NGT Court, having placed on records, the quantum of violations of forest laws, confirming from the Circular dated August 3, 2009 of the Union Ministry of Environment &Forest (MoEF) and the principal emphasis of Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in its affidavit submission before the NGT Court, appointed an expert on earth dams, Jaya Prakash Chand, Rtd.

Chief Engineer, Odisha on July 10, 2015 as Court Commissioner to critically assess the dam situation in technical perspective to save further water submergence and find out alternate strategy to release water.

His finding report was submitted on July 20 .

The NGT Court passed an order on the basis of the Commissioner's report on July 28, 2015 stating that, the Manipur Government is directed to follow the suggestion as made in the report regarding construction of "protective bund" in letter and spirit.

However, the State has totally dishonored the order for two months, he alleged.

MDAVO demanded that all responsible officers or authorities in committing such criminal acts should be booked according to the law of the land and shall be given befitting punishment unless the verdict of the NGT Court will be a mockery in the eye of the public.

It was stressed in the submission of MoTA that failure to comply with the FRA, 2006 in case of Mapithel Dam will set a very bad precedent in the State of Manipur and shall repeat the "historic injustice" done to the Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers.

It may be noted that Mapithel Dam project work went ahead for almost 33 years without obtaining mandatory Forest Clearance for which Manipur State initiates only in 2009 and 2013 for Stage-1 and Stage-2 Clearances after the FRA came into force in 2006.So, the act is very much applicable in Mapithel Dam which the State Government cannot deny.