Protest meet calls for reviewing Mapithel dam construction
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 22 2014: As part of the Global Days of Action for Development Justice to demand a just sustainable development in a post 2015, Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organization in collaboration with Citizens Concern for Dams and Development and Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur organised a protest meet against continuing injustice by the ongoing construction of Mapithel dam at Riha Village in Ukhrul District today.

During the protest meet, the participants who come from several villages demanded to stop construction of Mapithel dam till a review on the dam construction is conducted and till the Expert Review Committee formed in 2008 is resumed.

The protest meet also called to protect survival sources of communities, adhere to due process of development and indigenous peoples human rights standards and to ensure due accountability of corporate bodies destroying peoples' land and resources in Mapithel valley and to end all forms of militarization.

Among those who spoke on the occasion, R Sakhathan, Chairperson, Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organization explained how Mapithel dam construction constitutes unjust development by threatening people's survival.

He said there has been no detailed survey and consultation of affected communities and the legal process also failed to deliver justice for Mapithel dam.

The terms of agreement of 1993 is also seriously violated by the Government of Manipur and Mapithel dam is envisaged for completion in 2015 despite failure to take Forest Clearance, he noted.

Dr.RK Ranjan, Senior Environmentalist, observed that any development that destroys people's land, lives and future without leaving anything for coming generations is unsustainable and that Mapithel dam is already is unsustainable and threatens people's lives and future.

Jiten Yumnam, Secretary of Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur deliberated on the violations of Mapithel dam construction.

He stated the injustice and violations perpetrated in the construction of Mapithel dam and the plight, wishes and longstanding demands of dam affected communities need be taken into consideration towards setting just development goals and priorities as the world gears towards ensuring development justice and to formulate a people and nature oriented sustainable development in a post 2015 .

Honreikhui, Advisor of MDAVO, also shared how Mapithel dam construction is pursued with threats, arbitrary detention of communities affected.

He also explained how the Government of Manipur played divide and rule politics and how the state create confusion and chaos among the affected communities.

He wished the Government listen to the legitimate demands of affected communities, to review the Mapithel dam construction.

Comment