In the midst of many agitations, bandhs, strikes etc launched against it, many writing for and against on it, many scholars in our society are too much neutral on it, and even many organizations have imposed ban on its construction.

I (believing that there is no ban on expressing opinion) clearly know that I am a fool even where the angels have not dare to tread on it, but, I shall be feeling guilty and can never be forgiven myself in the future, if I keep mum on this contentious debate, The Tipaimukh Hydro Electric Project.

At present, it may be a cry in the wilderness, but I believe a day will surely dawn that this writing will be translated into a cry for economic progress and prosperity.

Let us come to the reality and not beat about the bush. What do we really loose or sacrifice and what do we really gain, who are the sufferers, how much they are, who are the beneficiaries, if the construction of Tipaimukh Dam is allowed to go ahead?

A. (a) The directly affected people:

On the construction of the Dam, it will directly affect 226 families consisting of 1475 people living in 8 small villages. Though the individual pain and suffering is not smaller, the number of affected people is small in relation to the size of the dam. In Khuga Dam, (which is waiting commissioning) their number is several hundred families, though the power to be derived from it is 3 MW only.

The directly affected people will be losing their livelihood, habitation, housing and their land. Their source of income shall be terminated consequently upon the construction. They are the people whom we should care them most though their number is very small. At present, their place of living is isolated, perhaps, because of their remote geographical location, untrodden by modern economic development. Most of them earn their livelihood with traditional method of cultivation i.e. jhuming, which they have practised since time immemorial.

Such method of cultivation give them no surplus and hardly sufficient for them 100x80=Rs. 8000/- which is less than Rs 1,08,000/- in a year i.e. 13.5 times higher than his previous income of jhuming. Then a meagre income family would have become a respectable employee with sufficient income. Hence, the most sufferers will be a liberated one and the first beneficiary.

(b) The Government must also look into the properties and assets of the affected people living in the submerged area. Being isolated by the economic development, the submerged area does not contain very costly sky scrappers as would be the case of New york, nor a very delicate establishment as we have in the offshore of Mumbai, but within the soluble limit of the nation’s treasury to compensate the assets and prosperity of the displaced people. Since they are acquired by sweat, toil and hard labour, they must be compensated, rehabilitated and resettled handsomely with simple procedures, against standing houses, standing crops and properties etc.

(c ) The land: The total submerged area would be 286.20 sq km of land. Of which 68.08 hectares are paddy fields. The size is not big with regard to the size of the Dam. Then the remaining 286.20 sq km – 68.08 hectares of land, more than half of the submerged area has narrow and deep gorges and as a result, the area to be affected is very small. Secondly, the deeper question is for what we have used that land now?

Do they really prosper with the present system of exploitation? For what we are intending to use the land if the construction is obstructed? Are we not saying that the present use i.e. shifting cultivation or forest burning is uneconomical, unproductive, and unscientific, causes soil erosion, deforestation, environmental degradation and destruction of floral and fauna?

This practice of destruction has taken place, is taking place, is going to take place even before the construction. It is true that the search for substituting jhum cultivation has been the main agenda of the North East region which can be successful only by transferring the occupational structure. Luckily, nature has treasured us, provided us, and blessed us with an excellent potentiality, as OPEC countries are blessed with petroleum, which is the backbone of their economy, whereas Japan, England etc. are blessed with minerals under the ground, like coal, Iron etc. and good coastal line for fishing.

The gangetic plain is endowed with fertile soil ideally suited to rice, sugarcane, jute etc. cultivation. In our lovely land of Manipur, the Mani, the Jewel is not found in the underground, but fortunately above the ground, decorated with the most beautiful landscape, moderate climate with excellent potentiality for construction of Mega-dam, which very few places on earth enjoy it.

Taping renewable resources from this natural gift will be the pride of Manipur, the backbone of our economy, and the Mani (Jewel) to us. However, if we choose not, we are choosing backwardness to advancement, regression to progression. Therefore, let us rethink and reconsider our stand, one day, we will realise our mistake, then and there, we will regret it.

B. We have so far dealt with the burden on the construction of the dam, i.e. the affected people, the assets and properties and the land. We are lucky that as regard to the size of the dam, the affected people are not very large. Let us believe that they are well rehabilitated, compensated, and they are no longer the losers, but become the first beneficiaries out of 24 lakhs of Manipur?

On completion of the dam, the power supply of Manipur will be augmented by 435 MW (29% (inclusive of 12% free) of 1500MW) to the present availability of 80MW surpassing the present power need of 140 MW of Manipur. In all the houses of 24 lakhs of the people of Manipur rich or poor, big or small, remote or near, everyone will get 24 hours electricity, which has never been in the history of Manipur. Hallelujah!

The very much tiresome load shedding in Manipur will be the phenomenon of yesterday!

The switches of our kitchen refrigerators, radios, TV’s, computer, room heaters, washing machines, lighting systems, fanning, electric ironing etc. etc. will be clicked-on and re-alive Manipur.

Our dependence on generator, inverter will be substantially reduced or no more. Our petrol, mobile and battery consumption will be drastically cut-off. Our communication system with the rest of the world through internet, fax, telephone etc. will be opened up, regulated and serviceable 24 hours, we will thus, be a part in the global, a village, the wheels of our sick industries, the spinning wheels, the rice mills, the sugar mills, the saw mills, the grinding mills, printing industries, cement factories, weaving industries etc. etc. will be spinned, recharged and re-invigorated again.

The profit curve in such industries will move upward to the right. Our newspaper industries will get regular, low cost power which would substantially reduced, the cost of production to earn them handsome profit. Incubators in our hatchery farms can deliver thousands of chicks at one time, the morality rate in poultry, duckery, piggery farms will be reduced to give them higher profit.

Facilitated by better connectivity through road communication between Imphal – Jiribam, Churachandpur – Aizawl, Jiribam – Tipaimukh; in land water ways; in between Tipaimukh, Tamenglong, Nungba, Parbung, Kolkota, trade and commerce will be developed and the remotest corner of Manipur, which we regard it as land of curse will be a centre of business. The scientific laboratories in the University, colleges and technical institutions will get sufficient power supply facilitating the search and imparting knowledge to increase.

Our hospitals and healthcare centres can provide better care to the patients, and the huge expenditure on patient treatment we spent in other states will be reduced, the knowledge of our state medical scientists (which is not inferior in comparison to scientist in other states) can be properly exhibited. We will no longer be importer of power but we will be exporter of power to other states.

Our heavy due on power bills will be totally gone, instead, other states will pay their dues on us. But, we will pay none. Yes, that is the character of a blessed nation. ‘You shall lend many but you no borrow’ (Diut. 28:12, Bible) The beneficiaries are not only on our people, but also to our neighbouring states like Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland. That also another characteristic of a blessed nation, ‘all the nations (families) around us shall be blessed’ (Genesis 12:3, Bible).

Gradually, the occupational structure will be transformed. The Jhumming practice which is prevalent in the hills will be checked and they will switches over to secondary and tertiary sectors of occupation at their own liberty for their own profit. Hence the floral and fauna which is facing serious destruction will be checked, protected and preserved. The sufficient power supply added by the rail link with the East Asia (now under construction), supplemented by inland waterways and improved road communication will widen the market of our indigenous goods.

Our past glory of silk will be revived and restored. Our airports will be automatically widened, modernise and upgraded to international airports to accommodate more fleets and better landing facilities etc.

Appealed by our moderate climate and hypnotised by the scenic beauty of Manipur, we will be a tourist destination. Tourist from different parts of the world will flock together. Tourist and recreation facilities, water sporting, fishing, boating, picnicking etc. will automatically come up.

The flow of tourist will create markets for hotels, lodging, fooding, transport services; like taxis, buses, autorickshaws, rickshaws, boat services, hair cutting and even shoe polishing will be good and reputable business. Even a small waterfall, or caves in the Tamenglong can earn income.

Transport and communication system will be improved, well paved, to make faster, smarter etc. Cable cars will connect top of our hills and some tourist will wonder, “Is this Switzerland?” but we’ll say, ‘No you are mistaken, This is Manipur!’ because it is a New Manipur.

Come, let us make a New Manipur
A New Nation
A New World
Anouba Jugi, Anouba Asha Puduna,
Lak-roo, naharol, semlase Anouba Sangsar
My dear friends, we can make Manipur Great!