Rally held against Tipaimukh Dam
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 26 2012:
Demanding the Government to opt for construction of micro-hydel projects to meet the power requirement of the State instead of constructing mega dams like Tipaimukh Dam, a cycle rally was taken out today at Waiton in Imphal East.
The rally, organised jointly by Social Advancement and Research Centre, Hatta, Greens Club, Waiton, and Ideal Club, Waiton, was a part of the anti-Tipaimukh Dam stir that has been launched in every part of the State.
The cycle rally conveyed a clear message against the construction of Tipaimukh Dam at the cost of damaging environment and forest and even that threatened the lives of many people.
It also demanded the government to construct micro hydel projects to meet the power and potable water requirement of the State.
The cycle rally, participated by the youths, started from Waiton Puthiba Ground and touched Waiton Awang Leikai, Waiton Makha, Maning Leikai and reached till MPTC, Pangei.
The rally also passed through NB College, Khundrakpam and later it converged at the starting point, Waiton Puthiba Ground.
The rallyists displayed placards reading, 'No more Projects like Loktak Project, 'No to Tipaimukh Dam,' 'Save Environment, Save People,' 'Go back NHPC,' 'We don't want big dam,' 'Don't kill people by big dam,' 'We want forest, not dam,' 'Stop crime, Save future generation,' 'No big dam in NE' .
It is pertinent to mention that the Government of Manipur through a joint venture Company among the, SJVNL and NHPC, has given its commitment to the construction of Tipaimukh Hydro Electric (Multipurpose) Project having an installed capacity of 1500 Megawatts to be located at Manipur-Mizoram border, downstream of the confluence of the river Barak with Tuivai, in Churachandpur District of Manipur.
Consequently, the State Government had signed two Memorandum of Understanding with the National Hydro-Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited, and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) to this effect.
The MoU was signed once in April 2010 and later in October 2011.The rally held today also strongly demanded the revocation of the MoU signed between the State Government and NHPC.
Among others, it also demanded the Government to adopt holistic approach and maintain transparency if at all it is going to construct the Tipaimukh Dam.