MDAVO condemns re-blocking of Mapithel Dam water
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 11 2015: Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organisation (MDAVO) has condemned the sudden re-blocking of Mapithel Dam water by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD) since the last two or three days which has led to raising the water level.

In a statement on Sunday, MDAVO Vice Chairman Themson Jajo said the dam water was released from the month of August last which led to drastic decrease of the water level.

Themson alleged that the current re-blocking of the dam tunnel is totally contradictory to the letter dated August 12, 2015 of the Chief Engineer, IFCD, Government of Manipur to the Ministry of Environment & Forest & CC Regional Office, Shillong, informing that the water in the Mapithel Dam reservoir was being released through power conduit and water transmission line to keep the reservoir level lower.

MDAVO condemns re-blocking of Mapithel Dam water

He said that the EE had on September 12 said the water was released for the purpose of cutting down big trees which were being dried up in the recent submergence.

But some staff members of the same department said that the reservoir water was released to save the dam diversion portion which was at a high risk of breaking in the first part of August this year.

Piling up of mud bags in the area where water seepage occurred was taken up since the first part of September.

However, from the Environment & Forest angle, the dam water reservoir must be released due to the fact that the project proponent IFCD failed to execute the order of NGT Court dated July 28, 2015 which directed to construct protective bund to save Chadong village and nearby forest and field areas.

MDAVO further contended that blocking of the hydro-generation tunnel should be stopped immediately to ensure continuous release of water to the lowest point until and unless the Environment & Forest laws violation case which is pending before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is settled and safety measures are assured for the people living in the downstream.