Imphal, November 08, 2008: Contesting that construction works related to Mapithel Dam as part of the Thoubal Multipurpose Project should be stopped until a thorough review of the project, a mass sit in protest demonstration was staged along Dingku Road here today.

The protest demonstration was jointly organised by 19 different social organisations including the associations and clubs of the dam-affected villages, antidam lobbyists, student bodies and human rights defenders.

Copy of the leaflets distributed among the public on the occasion contended that free and prior consent of the would-be affected villagers had not been taken nor informed at the time of giving the approval on construction of the 66 metre high and 1074 metre long Mapithel dam by the Planning Commission in 1980 .

Even if the project cost has been fixed at Rs 715.81 crores (as per market value of June, 2007) after various consequent revision from the initial project cost of Rs 47.25 crores estimated in 1980, the dam has been under construction for the last 20 years without adoption of any new technology and it is not suitable to the changing needs and demands, the leaflet said.

Pointing out that construction of the dam would submerge under water around 11 tribal villages in the upstream while another 14 villages in the downstream would be deprived of the benefits being received from Thoubal river, the leaflet suggested that a complete review of the project by an expert review committee would be the right step.

Today's protest session also strongly decried the police crackdown against anti-dam rallyists on November 3 as well as expressed resentment against the construction companies of the dam, Ansal Properties and Industries Limited, New Delhi and Progressive Construction Limited, Hyderabad.

'Until and unless, the Govt comes out with its response on the rightful demands of the people, we are ready to launch various democratic movements for the sake of safeguarding our livelihood, land, properties and forest resources', the leaflet stated.

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