Anal Nagas oppose Chakpi project
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 11 2011: Several Anal Naga civil organisations have raised strong objection to the Government's plan for Chakpi Multipurpose Project.

It is reported that Government officials have already conducted a survey at Chakpi river, a few metres away from Chakpikarong sub-divisional headquarters the multipurpose project without prior informed consent of the people.

Speaking to media persons at Chakpikarong today, chairman of the Chakpikarong Sub-Divisional Anal Naga Chiefs' Association HL Thungam conveyed that officials of IFCD and Geological Survey of India came there on August 8 .

Some months back, another team visited the area for soil testing.

The soil testing team came in secrecy though the officials of IFCD and GSI visited the area publicly.

Thungam said that the project would affect around 150 villages of Chakpikarong which are mainly inhabited by Anal Nagas and they would be displaced internally.

"The project would forfeit our livelihood like terrace cultivation, fishing and dependence on forest produces", he said.

"In addition, the project would destroy our traditions and social values as well as our properties", he said.

Thungam also pointed out that the sacred site of Wangpurel, one of the most important gods of the Meiteis, is located there.

Anallon Chiefs' Association leader NL Angkhum said that the spot identified for construction of high earth dam is located just 13 Kms upstream of the confluence of Manipur river and Chakpi river.

The site selected from the dam is surrounded by Anal Khunou in the East, and Anal Khullen and Khubung Khunou in the West.

However, the immediate surrounding is uninhabited and has hillocks.

This might have prompted the officials to select the area for the earth dam.

Anal Khunou chief HT Lingthun said that the Government first proposed the project in 1979-80 .

The recent survey conducted by Government officials took the local people by surprise for they were neither informed nor any consent sought.

"We would never accept the project under any circumstances", Lingthun said.

He also cited the alleged adverse impacts of Khuga Project, Thoubal Multipurpose and the Tipaimukh Project.

Questioning the benefits of these projects, he asked the Government to complete the pending/incomplete projects first.

Former president of the Anal Students' Union BS Naresh asserted that the proposed Chakpikarong project is against the guidelines of the World Commission on Dams.

"This would severely upset our demography and culture.

Moreover, the area falls under highly seismic active zone", he said.

Appealing to scrap the project at the earliest, Naresh advised not to send any officials there in connection with the proposed project.

If the Government tries to browbeat the people, it would be only inviting mass resistance movements.

Reacting to the statement of Works Minister that rising water level Chakpi river caused flood in Chairel and Tangjeng, he said the notion that the dam can check floods would prove wrong, if the Minister is harbouring any such notion.

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