UNM-M petitions Govts against Tipaimukh dam
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 07 2013:
United NGOs Mission Manipur (UNM-M) has once again urged the State and Central Governments to stop the proposed construction of Tipaimukh dam.
It is very clear that the dam is not for the development of Manipur rather it is mainly for commercial purpose where companies would make money out of the project, said UNM-M in a press release.
State Forest and Environment Department had clearly informed the political leaders that the dam would permanently destroy vast forest areas.
UNM-M said that people of Manipur must understand that no company or Union Government had hardly done any scientific study on impending impacts of the dam.
A team of Unit of Environment stationed in Shillong surveyed both Tipaimukh and Kaimai areas by helicopter and submitted a report in favour of Government of India.
However, this report has never been made public, the press release said.
It questioned how anybody could make environmental impact assessment from a helicopter.
Ecological disaster as nearly 10 million trees and 27000 bamboo columns will be uprooted besides destroying of thousands of floras and faunas in around 300 sq km of forestland in Churachandpur and Tamenglong districts, it added.
The press release further said that the Centre is yet to respond to the recommendations of UN on construction of the dam.
It also pointed out that Manipur University has already suggested the State Government that 30 mini hydel projects can be constructed on the rivers of Manipur.
These mini projects can produce 300 MW of power.