Source: Lalmalsawm Sungte *
Churachandpur, April 07:
The Hmar National Army (HNA) has given a green signal to NEEPCO to go ahead with the proposed Tipaimukh Dam, to be constructed on the confluence of Tuivai and Tuiruong rivers.
In a letter, signed by the outfit's 'deputy commander-in-chief' Ng Darngawn and addressed to the Chairman and Managing Director of NEEPCO, on March 31, the outfit said, "The Hmar National Army convey its sincere hope that the (public) hearing(s) would ultimately lead to positive understanding among different party concern".
However, HNA said that "any propose development work" should be "for the benefit and development of the people".
"The Hmar National Army, will not allow to prevail in the Tipaimukh Dam imbroglio.
It will also not tolerate outside pressure who are ought once again to derail the project," the outfit assured NEEPCO.
Stating that HNA supports the immediate implementation of development projects the outfit said, "NEEPCO should continue its endeavour at Tuirial Hydel Project" also.
Security will be provided by HNA, the outfit added.
However, laying down the conditions for the dam to come up, HNA said: "After two years of work in Tipaimukh, all its demands manifested through various memorandum submitted to (the) Central government for giving political safeguard" to the Hmars settle in Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura should not be denied.
If under any circumstances, the outfit cautioned, that the "rights of the Hmar tribe is not taken into account" HNA would "not allow the Dam construction to continue".