Imphal, January 19: In the aftermath of IFC Minister N Biren's reported assurance that a review committee will be constituted in connection with the Mapithel Dam being constructed as a part of the Thoubal Multipurpose Project, the Citizens' Concerns for Dams and Development (CCDD) and the Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers' Organisation (MDAVO) have demanded cessation of the ongoing construction work until the review committee is set up.

Briefing media persons at CCDD office, Paona Keithel, MDAVO chairman Ramthing Kasar maintained that in case necessary initiatives are not taken up to study all the negative aspects of the dam first after duly constituting the proposed review committee, intense anti-dam movements will be launched from January 22 .

In the recent general assembly of the MDAVO held at Lamlai Khunou (Ramrei Aze), terms of reference of the proposed review committee was already formulated, Ramthing said.

Pledging that the CCDD will support any movement of the MDAVO, its joint secretary Jiten Yumnam noted that no proper assessment of the possible environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of the dam was conducted before the construction work was taken up.

Moreover, no prior consent of the affected villagers were sought, he added.

Rather, the construction work was taken up after the affected villagers were intimidated, harassed, arrested and coerced, alleged Jiten.

Just as the construction began, a large number of military personnel have been posted in the dam site thereby causing physical and mental threats to the villagers.

Till date, the State Government is unable to formulate an acceptable Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, asserted Jiten.

He further urged upon the proposed review committee to identify the lapses persisting before and during the Mapithel dam construction and to review rehabilitation and resettlement plan of the affected villagers based on a thorough and people participatory assessment of the environmental, cultural, social and economic impacts on villagers residing in upstream and downstream portions of the river.

Any review of these impacts of the dam should be based on the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams 2000, he insisted.

While the review process is underway, all construction activities should be put to a halt.

Further, people particularly affected should be allowed full participation in the review process, demanded the CCDD joint secretary.

Taking part in the press meet, MDAVO Core Committee member Honreikhui Kashung reminded that the villagers have been protesting against the dam since 1982.He further alleged that IFC officials have been creating divisions among the villagers by giving contract works and money to some villagers.

Besides the report that the dam site is a wasteland, there have been many false reports like the affected villagers have been compensated and that they have been rehabilitated.

But the fact remains that no affected village has been compensated nor any family rehabilitated, Honreikhui Kashung asserted.

Following construction of coffer dam to pave way for construction of the main dam without informing the villagers in advance, a large tract of agricultural field in the upstream portion has already been inundated.

On the other hand, people in the downstream are facing acute shortage of water, he decried.

The Mapithel Dam being constructed over Thoubal river at the junction of Phayang of Ukhrul district and Maphou of Senapati was approved by the Planning Commission in 1980 .

At that time, the cost of the dam which would be 55 metres high and 1074 metres long and its components was estimated at Rs 47.25 crores.

Consequent upon the prolonged delay, the project cost has been revised twice and the estimated cost at present stands at Rs 715.81 crores.

It is reported that the Mapithel Dam, once completed, will submerge an area of 3568 hectares.

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