KCP, KYKL, PREPAK, UNLF ban Tipaimukh Dam
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 01: Citing a number of reasons, four underground organisations, KCP, KYKL, PREPAK and UNLF have announced a joint ban on the construction of the controversial Tipaimukh dam.

A joint statement issued by the four militant organisations today said that the proposal of the Government of India to construct the Tipaimukh dam is nothing but to exploit the natural resources of Manipur to their advantage.

This has come about even as Manipur has been kept as a captive economy of Delhi for the last 60 years.

A file photo of a village near Barak which will be submerged by the dam

Far from contributing to the people, the dam will only drive a wedge amongst the different communities of the State, observed the statement.

Energy is today one of the most important ingredients for development, admitted the four groups.

However the statement added that energy should not be harnessed at a huge cost and loss to the traditional identity of the place and environment.

The Tipaimukh dam will only destroy the natural environment of the place and will deal a severe blow to the surrounding areas, said the four organisations and added that despite knowing this fact, India is hell bent on constructing the dam so that it can make up its energy deficit.

Such a policy should not go unopposed by the people.

No amount of compensation will be enough for the people who stand to be uprooted from their ancestral land to make way for the dam, said the statement.

The so called benefits that the dam will bring to the people of the State also cannot compensate for the tension and distrust that will arise among the people because of the dam, argued the four organisations.

Not more than 20 percent of the 1500 megawatts to be generated by the dam will be given to Manipur.

Moreover at the moment the State is not in a position to utilise more than this, observed the statement.

The remaining 80 pc of the power to be generated will be utilised to fill up the coffers of the Government of India at the loss of the traditional lands and assets of the people.

This is nothing short of exploiting the natural resources of the people, observed the statement and added that the dam should be opposed by everyone.

"Even if we were to be the owner of the dam, this type of project will never be taken up," said the statement.

Power projects in Manipur should be taken in sync with the geography and water resources of the land, said the statement.

The conditions of the people should also be taken into consideration while taking up any project.

The priority is to protect the natural course of the rivers, rivulets and streams in the hills.

Micro and Mini Hydel Projects can be taken up in the hill districts at the appropriate sites, said the statement adding that decentralisation of projects is the need of the hour.

Such type of projects, if taken up by the State Government will not be opposed.

Reiterating the ban on the dam, the four organisations said that if any native of the State involve themselves in the construction of the dam, then they will be treated as enemies of the people.

The four militant organisations also appealed to the people of Manipur not to be involved in the construction of the dam and urged all to oppose the dam.