Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 28:
Mapithel Dam Affected ChingTam Organisation, a body representing affected villages of Mapithel Dam has demanded complete assessment of the impacteconomic, social and environment both at downstream and upstream and a complete resettlement and rehabilitation study and implementation plan prepared with full and active participation of the affected people as represented by the Organisation.
According to a statement issued by its secretary Lenpu Lupheng, after a thorough deliberation today, the organisation has come to the understanding that there has been no proper assessment of the impact of the dam on those who will be affected by the dam and its components.
The statement observed that though the dam construction has been on for more than two decades, the affected people have been either neglected or sidelined with no proper rehabilitation and resettlement and the dam authorities have not even bothered to study the impact on the downstream villages despite global recognition that they are the worst affected when dams are built.
As a result, the meeting resolved that MDACTO would take up stringent measures including stoppage of all activities in the dam area, no-operation with dam authorities, eviction of dam related people from the villages, etc, if the said demands were not fulfilled, the statement informed.