Imphal, September 15: Going on the offensive against the anti-dam lobby, Power Minister Francis Ngajokpa today said that those who are opposed to the Tipaimukh dam are not experts on the matter.

Replying to a private member resolution motion raised by MPP MLA O Joy, the Power Minister said that the Government is now ready to go ahead with the construction of the dam and added that the decision to give the go ahead signal was taken after numerous meetings and deliberations.

During the course of the different meetings and deliberations no expert or scientist opposed the construction of the proposed dam, said Francis.

Taking pot shots at the anti-dam lobby, the Power Minister said that none of them are experts in the field and added that they are experts in such fields as history and political science.

There are no loopholes in the project report prepared by NEEPCO, declared Francis and added that there is also no firm foundation to base the argument that the dam will wreak immense damages in times of earthquakes.

No expert has ever expressed any apprehension over the dam, he added.

To spread awareness on the true nature of the dam and its resources, the State Government will organise public meetings all over the place, declared the Power Minister and appealed to all to extend their cooperation.

Asserting that the dam will bring immense benefits, Francis said that it will give indirect benefits to many.

Moreover the dam will also mean better road communication and more wealth.

The estimated cost of the dam is Rs 6714.24 crores, Francis informed the House and added this is inclusive of Rs 445 crores for modernisation of flood control, Rs 43 crores for relief and rehabilitation, Rs 166.01 for National Highway diversion and Rs 246 crores for external security.

The dam will submerge eight villages and will lead to the loss of agricultural fields of 77 villages in Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts, said the Minister.

The State Government agreed to the proposal to construct the dam after minutely studying the benefits and the losses, asserted Francis.

Raising the private member resolution motion, O Joy reminded that the State Assembly had earlier taken two decisions in connection with the dam, once in 1997 and again in 1999.Any decision taken by the Assembly is serious, said Joy and urged all not to overlook this point.

The MLA said that the project report prepared by NEEPCO has not successfully addressed many issues including the danger posed by earthquakes and added that this has raised suspicion over the validity of the report.

There is a strong suspicion that the State may be forced to buy power generated fromthe dam instead of getting its rightful share of free power, added Joy.

An independent body may be engaged to go into the details of the dam and the unalloyed report should be made available to the people.

If the dam is constructed then there should be provisions in the agreement that the dam should be handed over to the State Government after some time, he suggested.

After points were shared between the ruling and Opposition Joy did not pursue the matter further.

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