MDAVO decries
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 23 2015:
Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers' Organisation (MDAVO) has accused the State Govt of failing to comply with the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Kolkata, which on July 28 last directed the State Govt to follow the suggestion of the Court Commissioner regarding the submergence of the village (Chadong) .
In a statement, MDAVO said that the NGT Court passed the order based on the 3 days investigation report of the Court Commissioner, Engineer Jaya Prakash Chand, at Mapithel dam from July 15 to 17 .
MDAVO said that 8 petitioners of Mapithel dam affected villages filed a case before the NGT on July 20, 2013 against the violation of Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and Forest Right (Recognition of ST and other Traditional Forest Dwellers right) Act, 2006 in the construction of Mapithel dam project without acquiring mandatory Environment and Forest Clearances for almost 33 years.
According to the NGT orders dated 12/11/2013 and 20/ 11/2013, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest halted the dam construction for 7 weeks due to non compliance with National Forest laws.
Interestingly, the 33 years illegal construction violating the Green laws were corrected within 41 days when the Union MoEF conceded the final clearances on Dec 31, 2013 .
Questioning the legality and mandatory procedures of granting the clearances, it was confirmed through RTI that no site inspection was carried out by the concerned Ministry from New Delhi and Shillong.
Based on this factual point, the affected villagers filed an Appeal before the same Court on January 24, 2014.Final hearing for the impending case will be held on August 26 at Kolkata, it added.