Stop Mapithel Dam construction: UNM-M
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 31 2015 : United NGOs Mission-Manipur (UNM-M) urged both the Centre and the State Governments to stop the blocking of water in the Mapithel Dam and demanded to establish an independent expert team from Manipur University, NIT and others to assess the impact of the proposed dam on the people.

In a joint statement, UNMM Chairman Dr Tamthing Ruivanao and Secretary U Nobokishore Singh stated that the construction of Mapithel Dam has violated the International law, UN declaration on Indigenous People's Right, 2007 and Article 21 of the Constitution of India "Right to life and personal Liberty" .

They appealed the Government of India and Manipur to investigate the officials who are involved in the project under Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Atrocity Act.

UNMM also demanded to form a committee from the Manipur Assembly and to start dialogue with the people in the upstream and downstream at the earliest.

UNMM alleged that many dams projects constructed in Manipur have failed to provide water and electricity from the commissioned and the fate of the Mapithel Dam will be the same as the others.

"Over 10 hectares of paddy fields, forest land are submerged after blocking of Mapithel Dam since January last" they added.

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