TODAY -
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 19:
Raising strong objection to construction of Mapithel dam, thousands of people took out a protest rally in Ukhrul district headquarters today.
On the other hand, the Tangkhul Naga Long has declared that it would not allow construction of Mapithel dam under any circumstance.
The protest rally was jointly organised by the Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long (TMNL) and Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) and Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL).
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The protest rally which was also participated by a large number of students terminated at TNL ground where a public meeting was held.
All along the rally, the protesters shouted various slogans against construction of Mapithel dam.
Showing solidarity to the protest rally, all the shops and markets of Ukhrul district Hqs remained closed and taxi service was also suspended.
However, there was no disruption to Imphal-Ukhrul bus service and functioning of Government offices.
Addressing the meeting, director of the New Delhi based Inter-Cultural Resources Smitu Kothari asserted since the country gained independence, the Government has displaced more than 50 million people in the name of development.
Out of these, construction of dams accounted for displacement of two crore people.
Quoting a survey report conducted by Government agencies, Smitu Kothari said that the cost of living for 77 percent of the total population of India is just Rs 20 per day.
This shows that several lakhs of people have not been rehabilitated yet.
The development trend of India as observed in the last 15 years is marked by creation of special economic zones and selling out of the country's land and resources to multi national companies in the name of development projects, Kothari remarked.
Mapithel dam is also one such project and this is a threat to the people, Kothari said.
Later briefing media persons, TNL president Stephen Angkang asserted that the dam construction will not be allowed under any circumstances.
Observing that the Government has failed to fulfil any of the assurance it gave to the people, Stephen asserted that the people has no other option but to prevent construction of the dam.
TKS president PR Jordan dam affected people raised several demands to the Government.
But the State rather addressing the demands, declared that the anti-dam protesters were trouble-makers.
This is humiliating, he said.
On being asked whether dam construction should be allowed to proceed after the project is reviewed and resettlement and rehabilitation programmes have been taken up, he informed that people will not provide such option to the Government.
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