Imphal, November 03: Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (South Sector) has strongly voiced against forthcoming hearing on controversial Tipaimukh Dam in Churachandpur and Tamenglong this month.

NPMHR-South Sector convenor Phamhring Sengul informed Newmai News Network today that the Naga rights body would totally oppose the proposed "Public Hearing" on Tipaimukh mega dam at Churachandpur slated for November 17 and also on November 22 at Tamenglong initiated by the Manipur Pollution Control Board.

The NPMHR has demanded that the project be withdrawn at any cost.

"If the 'public hearing' is not called-off, NPMHR would carry out all sort of agitations immediately.

'Public Hearing' was aimed at public scrutiny of the project and transparency in environmental clearance system.

The executive summary of the project have to summarize the project mentioning the socio-economic benefit from the project, the environmental impact of the project, and the improvement measures proposed to minimize the negative environmental impact, if any.

But the government has misused this democratic means for their own vested interest by cheating the people with their calculated motive," said the Naga rights body.

Phamhring Sengul then said that all information furnished in the 'executive summary' are manipulated.

"There has been no 'Environmental Impact Assessment' on the proposed project so far.

The immediate impact will be on the ecological bio-diversity of the Barak river .

North East region is one of the only few green belts in the whole world.

This has been proved by the regular visits of rare species of migratory birds and other animals.

The endangered animals like the slow Loris, big cats and horn-bill are found only in this part of India," said the NPHMR convenor.

The Naga rights body further stated that the executive summary does not mention the impact on bio-diversity.

The catchments area as mention in the summary will affect in Burma 751 sq km, in Nagaland 728 sq km, in Manipur 9126 sq km and in Mizoram 2153 sq km respectively and vulnerable areas as mentioned are all manipulated calculations as percentage tally between villages and barren area are contradicting and misleading.

"NPMHR is campaigning across the districts to collect the view and concern of the local community based leaders on various aspects related to environmental degradation, displacement, conflict etc due to such development taken up by the Government.

NPMHR sincerely seek the support of all the communities in the North East region to voice against the Tipaimukh Dam and also bear with us in our agitation what-so-ever for the common future of the Global village.

The Government should be held responsible for any untoward accident," added the Naga rights body.

A seminar christened as One Day Leaders Workshop against Tipaimukh Dam organized by NPMHR(South) was held at Indoor Stadium, Chandel on November 1.The meet was attended by tribal leaders, women and student leaders, intellectuals, teachers, NGOs, advocates, sportsmen where social activists Aram Pamai and Samson Remei spoke on the negative implications of Tipaimukh dam and R.Kasar spoke on behalf of the people of Mapithel Dam Affected Village Organisation.

Representatives of All Naga Students Association (ANSAM) and Naga Women Union, Manipur (NWUM) also addressed the meeting on the various socio-political dangers posed by the mega dams.

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