Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, December 20:
The deputy commissioner of Tamenglong district, Moses Chalai, has admitted that the people of Tamenglong district are generally not in favour of construction of the controversial Tipaimukh Dam.
Interacting with mediapersons during the recent Tamenglong Orange festival, Chalai admitted the public was still unconvinced about the advisability of gong ahead with the dam construction though several meetings have been held with experts who tried to convince them otherwise.
He said the public were particularly concerned about the fact that backwater inundation of the Barak river after the Tipaimukh dam is built would flood thousands of hectres of land along the sides of the river.
Another reason is the fact that the area is a chronic earthquake zone.
Observing that every project has its loss and gain, he said that the concerned experts, including both local and non-local, belonging to government as well as private institutions must debate on the losses and gains, and if the public can be convinced the gains will be more they support the project.
Chalai added that on the other hand, the Tamenglong publics were anxious for the Loktak downstream project to go ahead.
He also expressed his own desire for commencing the project at an early date providing adequate security.
To a question, he disclosed that the amount of compensation for land to be affected by the project has been fixed at Rs 18.9 crores in total.
Moses Chalai also observed that the cane and bamboo resources of Tamenglong and Churachandpur district, if properly exploited, can easily sustain the state�s economy.
He observed that in Tamenglong district alone, there is around 500 square kilometers of bamboo growth, of various varieties.
Not only can a bamboo-based paper mill be set up and function profitably, bamboo seed too can be cultured and exported, he maintained.