Body warns of damaging Mapithel Dam
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 24 2021: Mapithel Dam Affected Headmen, Chiefs & Elders Organisation Manipur has asked the government to translate into action the memorandum of agreement signed by the government for the development of the 21 villages affected by the Mapithel Dam and threatened to cause destruction to the structure if the authorities ignore their demand.

This resolution was taken during the meeting of 21 villages affected by the Mapithel Dam held at Riha village, Kamjong district on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media utter the meeting, Organisation chairman M Ngaranmi recounted that subsequent to construction of the dam the livelihood of surrounding hills and valley villages have been severely affected.

The present and previous governments had assured the dam affected villages that various developmental work will be taken up for them, but nothing concrete has happened till now, he lamented.

M Ngaranmi mentioned that villagers had launched various agitations in this regard including enforcement of bandh along the Imphal-Ukhrul road from October 5 to 7.In the aftermath of the bandh, a 19-point MoU was signed between the state government and Mapithel Dam Affected Headmen, Chiefs & Elders Organisation Manipur and JAC against forced construction of Manpthel Dam Manipur.

He continued that the MoU agreed on provision of Rs 3 lakh each to dam affected villager as livelihood rehabilitation package; compensation for horticulture products, agriculture crops, trees submerged by the dam; payment of pending land compensation; construction of tourist centre; providing boats and life-jackets for fishermen, etc, along with implementing the agreement at the earliest.

M Ngaranmi further conveyed that so far, only 3 per cent of the MoU has been executed by the government.

Such indifferent attitude of the government is creating strong resentment amongst the villagers.

Therefore, it must implement the agreement as soon as possible.

If the government continues to make life difficult for the villagers, they will destroy the dam, he warned.

He further appealed to the Forest Department to stop encroaching on the land of the 21 villages under the pretext of tree plantation programme.

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