Village authorities snub dam-survey
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 31 2012: Village authorities of Chadong village distanced themselves from the household verification exercise carried out today on the periphery of Mapithel Dam project.

Along with stringent security measures under the supervision of Ukhrul district Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police the household verification process to document possible impact by the Mapithel Dam project and relevant rehabilitation/resettlement process was launched today even though the village authorities did not cooperate with the exercise.

The village authority reasoned that as the current exercise is based on the 2011 household list of Chadong village the verification process would be irrelevant and unjustifiable for the said record (2011) contained several households that never existed in the village.

Voicing opposition to the said exercise the village authority not only stayed away from the household verification process but also submitted a memorandum to the Ukhrul DC for necessary rectification of the 2011 list.

As pre-emptive measure, prohibitory order under 144 CrPC was promulgated in Chadong village area as the authority was apprehensive that the exercise might be disrupted.

Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the exercise, Chadong Village Authority secretary cum caretaker MH Kahaoshang contended that in the preparation of the 2011 household list names of individuals who are not residents of the village have been included.

During the previous verification process village authorities or its representatives were not taken into confidence, he maintained while questioning latest move of the Government as another committee formed with the approval of the Government had already begun verification exercise.

Stating that representatives of Mapithel Dam affected villages were part of the Expert Review Committee, also comprising of top Government officials, Kahaoshang said ignoring the Committee's ongoing verification exercise only confirms the apprehension that the latest Government move would be dubious and attempt to cover-up the past anomalies.

Asserting that report of the Expert Review Committee should be treated in all seriousness, he declared that household verification process that commenced from today would not be acceptable to the people.

To protest the exercise almost every villagers locked up their homes and left the village while black flags were seen hoisted in the houses.

However, personnel involved in the household verification process registered the locked houses.

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