Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 25:
Mass protest rallies under the banner of the Committee Against Tipaimukh Dam taken out simultaneously at Tamenglong Headquarters, Luangba (Nungba) and Luangmai (Noney) yesterday denounced the MoU signed between the Government of Manipur and the North East Electrical Power Corporation (NEEPCO) for construction of the Hydro Electrical Project at Tipaimukh along Manipur-Mizoram border.
Nearly 650 villagers including school students, non-Manipuri shopkeepers took part in the rally held at Luangmai (Noney).
They carried placards and banners with imposing wordings like 'We oppose construction of Tipaimukh dam,' 'We condemn the MoU,' Tipaimukh Dam is against the wish of the people,' 'Nature is our cultural heritage - Preserve it' and shouted slogans during the rally.
A public meeting was also held after the rally at Nongmei Bazar..
Addressing the meeting, social activist and lecturer of Komlatabi College, Chandel Dr Jeena expressed her deep concern for the villagers who would be affected by the proposed dam.
If the proposed dam is constructed at Tipaimukh, many people in the area are going to lose their means of livelihood, she said, asserting that in the past, people of Manipur experienced such impact when the Loktak Hydro Electrical Project was commissioned.
Reacting against the Government's assertion that the construction of the dam would help in the development of Tamenglong district, she asked how it would be possible when the source of livelihood of the people have been snatched away.
A mass public meeting was also held at the Public Ground of the Tamenglong HQ at after a rally taken out.
The meeting unequivocally condemned the MoU signed by the Government with NEEPCO for the construction of the dam.
The meeting also demanded that the content of the MoU signed as well as the project prepared by NEEPCO should be made public.
The resolution of the meeting in the form of a memorandum was later submitted to the DC of the district.
Representatives of Zeliangrong Union, Zeliangrong Women's Union, Zeliangrong Agency for Women's Development, Tipaimukh Dam Affected People's Committee, South Asia Solidarity for Rivers & People's and Hmar Students Association attended the meeting among many others.
In Nungba also nearly 500 villagers took out a mass rally and later submitted a memorandum to SDO, Nungba.
Human Rights activist, PA Theko and journalist Valley Rose were also among the eminent personalities who were present on the occasion.