Imphal, January 07: In continuation of the series of public meetings on Tipaimukh Project and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 held at different parts of the State, a public held at Khangabok Maisnam Leikai ground today resolved that the Tipaimukh Project should be scrapped forever and AFSPA should be repealed immediately.

The meeting organised by the Joint Social Upliftment Committee under the aegis of the Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Project (ACTIP) was attended by Laishram Koklei, Phundreimayum Tomba and Tourangbam Khomdon as presidium members.

Speaking on the occasion, ACTIP co-convenor O Bikramjit noted that the initiative of the Union Government to construct Tipaimukh Dam was a result of Union Heavy Industries Minister Santosh Mohan Dev's persistent pursuance to execute the Project so as to avoid devastating floods every year in Barak Valley in Assam.

Santosh Mohan Dev is also an MP from Assam.

As such, the assurance to provide uninterrupted power supply all over Manipur is only a hollow promise, Bikramjit said.

Reminding that the State Assembly had rejected the proposal of the Union Government to construct the Project in 1995, Bikramjit construed that laying of foundation stones for the Tipaimukh Project after conducting a 'closed door public hearing' without giving a chance to the people to air their views was a clear testimony that the SPF Government lacked concern for the people.

Asking as to why not the State and Union Governments did not consider establishment of paper factory or pharmaceutical plants at Tipaimukh instead of the environmentally disastrous Tipaimukh Dam, Bikramjit informed that the Government of Mizoram has instructed not to touch on the villages of the State after the people there opposed the Project during a public hearing.

However, the Government of Manipur has been going ahead with the Project quite oblivious to the very vocal and deep concerns raised by the people.

As such, all the people of Manipur should stand against the Tipaimukh Project, he asserted.

Addressing the gathering, member of the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup Dayananda Chingtham noted that since the day Manipur was merged into the democratic Indian Union, atrocities committed by security forces have become a daily affair in the State.

Observing that such rampant violation of human rights is akin to trampling upon the principles of democracy, Dayananda noted that even as Acts have been enforced all over the world for protection of Wildlife, the Govt of India is scheming a diabolic policy to exterminate all the indigenous peoples of Manipur by imposing several black and draconian laws in the State.

Such is the gift of merger of Manipur with the Indian Union, he lamented.

He further called upon people to struggle collectively against the black laws.

The meeting was also addressed by UPF president Mangi.

Later the public meeting adopted three resolutions, i.e., to struggle collectively for scrapping of Tipaimukh Project, immediate revocation of the MoU signed between NEEPCO and the State Government and immediate repeal of AFSPA from Manipur.

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