Forest clearance rejection hailed
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 27 2013 : Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) and Committee on the Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur (CPNRM) have welcomed the 'forest clearance' rejection for the proposed 1500 MW proposed Tipaimukh Multipurpose Project by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Government of India in its meeting on July 11-12, 2013 .

In a statement jointly signed by CCDD Chairperson RK Ranjan, the two organizations observed that the rejection of forest clearance by FAC has proven that the Government of Manipur and the dam building companies pursued destructive forms of development in Manipur with no care for the environment, forest, land and the people to be affected.

It also proved that the 'Environment Clearance' for Tipaimukh Dam on October 24, 2008 was accorded based on wrong information.

"The reasons of objections outlined by the FAC of MoEF that the Tipaimukh Dam project would cause widespread devastation of the flora, fauna, ecology in Barak Riverine ecosystem and socio-economic conditions for affected communities have long been highlighted by affected communities and environmental and social organizations.

The FAC's observation that the submergence of forest by the proposed Tipaimukh Dam is simply more than one hundred times the average rate of forest submergence by any other hydel-projects in India is just an absurd reality.

Further, the requirement of 16 hectares of forest land for every Mega Watt of power to be generated is extraordinarily high.

The total forest and non-forest area requirement of around 1000 sq km for the project, both for direct submergence (311 sq km) and for compensatory afforestation in non-forest areas (622 sq km) will be one of the highest land requirements by any single project all over the world.

The process for granting 'Environment Clearance' and 'Forest Clearance' has been carried out without any holistic and participatory impact assessment and non-recognition of people's rights over their land," the joint statement asserted.

The two organizations have also urged the Ministry of Environment and the Government of India to respect the recommendations of the FAC on Tipaimukh Dam not to accord 'Forest Clearance' and demanded that the Ministry of Environment and Forest should revoke the 'Environment Clearance' for Tipaimukh dam on October 24, 2008 as it is clearly based on wrong information.

"It is also high time that the Government of Manipur revoke the MoU signed with National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and the Satluj Vidyut Nigam Limited in 2010 given the confirmed multifaceted impacts.

The Government of Manipur should now embark on an alternative model of power generation in Manipur, based on the needs, wishes and aspiration of the people and to minimize impacts on environment.

The recommendations of World Commission on Dams, 200 and provision of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 should be respective while pursuing mega dams and other destructive and unsustainable forms of development in Manipur', the joint statement said.

Comment