MDACTO regrets Cabinet approval
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 19 2011:
Denouncing it as ill-motivated and dangerous, the Mapithel Dam Affected Ching-Tam Organisation (MDACTO), which is fighting for the affected villages downstream of Mapithel Dam has regretted the Manipur Assembly Cabinet approval on 13 September 2011of Rs.58 crore for compensation (read as Rehabilitation and Rehabiliation) for the people of Chadong and Lamlai Khunou affected by Thoubal Multipurpose project.
In a statement, MDACTO co-ordinator Letsie Mate pointed out that MDACTO consists of more than 16 villages living downstream of Mapithel Dam (of the Thoubal Multipurpose Project) and this representative organization has been party to the Expert Review Process set up, in 18 January 2008, by the Governent of Manipur inorder to re-assess and resettle the affected villages as a result of the construction of Mapithel dam.
Inclusion of downstream villages in the Review process is seen in many circles as positive and progressive in dam building for the very fact that the downstream impacts have been completely ignored in most dam building activities.
In the Expert Review process, MDACTO have not only been participating in the meetings but the Review team have visited several downstream villages and assessments of affected areas have begun.
Reports of such meetings and field visits are available both with us and the governemnt.
We mention this here inorder to make assertion that there are more than Chadong and Lamlai Khunou villages that are affected and that the Cabinet Approval sends a wrong signal to the affected villages downstream, the statement observed.
Downstream villages have voiced their anger against the dam in the past.
One may reacall Lungmila Elizabeth who was shot point blank by Manipur Police in a rally is still lying paralyzed in her house in Louphong Village.
If our problems are ignored we will have to come back to the street once again to fight for our rights.
While we know that this dam is dangerous for us, we are willing to sacrifice for others in the state.
However, the impact that we are going to face must be assessed and justly compensated and rehabilitated.
We had given our faith in the Expert Review Committee and what we need is a comprehensive review, the statement said.
Cabinet Approval is divisive and ill-motivated and is designed to divide us.
There is anger and turmoil in our hearts and our villages are burning.
This is not what we expected when the Review was put in place.
We still would seek the government to come to its sense and revive the Expert Review Committee.
Any other process other than the Review will harm our trust in the government, the statement contended.