Mapithel Dam Imbroglio: CAC Ukhrul to take up cudgels against Govt's concealment of CAT plan
Source: Hueiyen News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, August 23 2015: The controversy surrounding the Mapithel Dam Thoubal Multi Purpose Project � which has already submerged vast tracts of lands and homesteads of Mapithel villages -- is likely to snowball into another trouble.

The Catchment Area Committee (CAC) Ukhrul District under MDAVO is all set to soon take up the cudgels against what it termed as concealment of the Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) plan from the landowners of the District by the State Government.

The State Government has till date concealed the catchment area delineated in the Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) plan from the rightful landowners/villages of Ukhrul District despite the fact that the plan is going to affect 565 sq km of forest areas belonging to 44 villages from different parts of the district once the dam is commissioned, said members of CAC in a communication with Hueiyen Lanpao on Sunday.

Mapithel Dam Imbroglio: CAC Ukhrul to take up cudgels against Govt's concealment of CAT plan

According CAC members, the CAT plan would severely deprive the rightful landowners/villagers of their survival means since their legal rights and freedom to use the land and forest resources would be restricted.

Even then, the Government is covertly trying to go ahead with the plan while keeping the community in the dark about it.

"No information has been officially conveyed to the villages," they alleged.

"Since the CAT plan is part and parcel of the mega project, we would oppose tooth and nail the covert move of the State Government as it has fooled the ignorant people all these years," they asserted while adding that the Government can never protect or preserve the 565 sq km forest covers on its own volition without consulting the landowners or necessary clearance.

Alleging the government of trying to hoodwink the people into conceding the forest, they pointed out that earlier during the month of June government officials along with international environmentalists convened meetings with the people from 5/6 villages of the district and explained to them the need for conservation of forest without referring to the CAT plan.

"But that was all a clever ploy of the government to grab the tribal forest lands on the pretext of conserving forest and this cannot be accepted at all," countered the Catchment Area Committee (CAC)."We are in the process of deciding course of action and if the government would not rectify the flaws and come clean about the plan in due course, we would take recourse to various forms of agitation to safeguard their rights over their lands and forests, the committee has warned.

Meanwhile, as per a diagrammatic figure shown in the Thoubal MP Project profile, such areas as Maphou, Lamlai Khullen, Bungki Shangkhai, Litan, Ringui, Lamlang Gate, Phalung Simdang, Ukhrul Simdang, Hundung (Upper & Lower) and Tuin have been identified as critical areas.

Significantly, the 44 villages to be affected by the CAT plan included Shirui (Ato & Aze), Langdang, Choithar, khangkhui (Khullen & Khullen), Nungshong (Khullen & Khullen), Shangching, Lungshang (Khullen & Khunou), Shangshak Khullen, Shangshak Phunghon, Hatha, Hungpung, Hunphun, Lamlang, Seikhor, Phalung, Tashar, T Chahong, Lambui, Shokvao, TM Kasom, Sarkaphung, Ringui, Sirarakhong, Tuinem, Phadang, Somdal, Ngainga, Tolloi, Home, Home Vokngayar, Yaolen, Litan Sareikhong, Shangkai, Thawai Tangkhul, Thawai Kuki, Riha,Chadong, Lamlai, Zalengbung and Louphong.