Body warns of road shutdown
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 28 2021:
Mapithel Dam Affected Headmen Chiefs & Elders' Organisation, Manipur has warned of imposing a 48-hour shutdown of Ukhrul-Imphal Road and Kamjong-Imphal Road on October 6-7 if the government does not pay compensation to the people affected by Mapithel Dam at the earliest.
Speaking at Manipur Press Club here on Tuesday, chairman of the organisation M Ngaranmi informed that submergence of farmlands and residences dueto construction of Mapithel Dam in parts of Ukhrul, Kamjong, Kangpokpi and Imphal East districts has made life difficult for the people who were living in these areas as they have no place for agriculture and are starving.
The organisation and officials of Water Resources Department had signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on December 4,2020 for paying the compensation to the dam affected villagers by December 2020, but after releasing compensation to just a handful of the affected people it was halted leaving many in the lurch, he said.
M Ngaranmi continued that on September 15 it had given an ultimatum for implementation of the MoA by September 25, but till now, no action has been taken.
As such, they have decided to impose a 48-hour bandh/shutdown of the Ukhrul-Imphal Road and Kamjong - Imphal Road on October 6-7 .
Even after this, if the government does not pay the compensation they will launch an even more intense agitation, he cautioned, while appealing to public, CSOs and church societies to extend their support.