Mapithel Dam affected people on stir mode
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 25 2018: Mapithel Dam Downstream affected people will stage a protest near the Thoubal river banks tomorrow against the arbitrary, informal information disseminated by the IFC Department for immediate release of the water from the dam tomorrow.

This was stated by Debabrata Roy, executive member of Citizen's Concern for Dams and Development during a joint press meet of Mapithel Dam Downstream Affected People and Mapithel Dam Downstream Affected Village Level Committee held at Manipur Press club today.

Speaking to media persons, he said that yesterday, late in the evening, the locals of the villages in the downstream area of Mapithel Dam heard from informal sources that water will be released from the dam from Monday onward.

Condemning the informal information allegedly circulated by the department, he said that no formal written notice was issued specifying the time of release and the quantum/volume of water to be released by the authority concerned.

He said that the announcement comes at a time when the negative impacts of the Mapithel Dam are being increasingly felt by the villagers of both upstream and downstream areas.

Apart from flooding and blocking of Thoubal river, Mapithel Dam has adversely affected the livelihood of both upstream and downstream villagers.

The project was delayed due to multiple reasons for the past many years and in the meantime the project has also failed to fulfil any of its objectives, he claimed.

The loss of livelihood and agricultural land due to the construction of the dam, has been constraining people of downstream villages to travel to far off places in search of works leaving their families and children.

The steps taken up by IFC Department is inhuman and a complete disregard to human safety, including the safety of women and children and properties of those who are living in downstream areas and is a total and blatant abuse of power by the authority concerned, he alleged.

He also said that they strongly condemn the informal announcement which gave less than 36 hours to the villagers to clear their area and appealed for immediate withdrawal of the informal notification.

Any human and property loss cause by the sudden release of water, will have to be the sole responsibility of the State Government.

He also said that the villagers of downstream areas will stage a protest in connection with the informal announcement of IFCD to release the Mapithel Dam water tomorrow.

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