MDAVO expresses concern over 'missing file'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 09 2015: The Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organization (MDAVO) has expressed serious concern over the reports in local dailies about the two important files on Rehabilitation and Resettlement missing for affected communities of Mapithel Dam of the Thoubal Multipurpose Project.

MDAVO presumed that the files were destroyed deliberately by the Government of Manipur to cover up the wrongdoings of the project authorities, the contractors and those involved in the fraudulent and corrupt rehabilitation works of Mapithel dam, a statement issued by the vice-chairman of MDAVO, J Themson said.

'The MDAVO considers the reports about the missing files as a clear evidence of persisting fraud, corruption and manipulation in the construction and R&R of Mapithel Dam.

This has required an urgent investigation into the controversial Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) process from an impartial investigation agency like CBI,' the MDAVO statement said.

The forced household verification drive conducted by Joint Verification Team (JVT) led by R Sudan, the then DC Ukhrul district, Dimpu Kamei, the then SDO, Phungyar and present ADC, Ukhrul and IFCD officials on Oct 29, 2012 in Chadong and Lamlai Khunou villages was marred with inclusion of fictitious names, it pointed out.

The number of households verified as bonafide households during forced verifications, conducted after imposing 144 CrPC with full security at Ramrei Aze (Lamlai Khunou) and Chadong villages were marked by impersonation, faking under aged children as couples and inclusion of persons who never resided in the villages.

The matter of household manipulation was also published by the media widely, it said.

The issue of inclusion of fictitious names in the payment process of R&R packages for Chadong and Lamlai Khunou in October 2012 can be easily confirmed from the reply to an Unstarred question no 56 of Manipur State Assembly on Dec 22, 2014 on the floor of the State Assembly, it said.

The refusal of the Government of Manipur to provide the list of beneficiaries which were sought through several RTI applications also confirmed a complete lack of transparency, corruption and fraud in the Mapithel Dam R&R processes, it posited.

The Mapithel Dam is also fraught with violations of traditional customary laws, National and international laws.

The dam construction has already become a money minting project for those at the helm of powers, the corporate bodies, etc, it added.

As such, the MDAVO urged the Governments of India and Manipur to investigate the reported violations, corruption and manipulations in Mapithel Dam and to prosecute and punish all those found guilty.

It also urged the State and Central Govts to stop reported forcible plugging of Yangwui Kong/Thoubal River and to release the water immediately, and to withdraw the heavy deployment of security forces in and around the project areas and in the affected villages.

It also urged that Mapithel Dam construction work be stopped till the demands of the affected communities to review the project is fulfilled and consent of the affected public is taken.

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