CRAM decries non-adherence of guidelines on ADB road project
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 23 2014 :
Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRAM) has expressed strong condemnation over violation of the human rights of the indigenous people in Manipur by the road project from Thoubal to Kasom Khullen funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) by failing to adhere to the safeguard policies of ADB, in particular to provide rehabilitation and resettlement for the Six villagers of Thoubal and Ukhrul Districts, affected by the road project.
It may be noted here that the Manipur High Court on 11 August served a legal notice to the Government of Manipur, Ministry of Development of North East and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the alleged lapses and arbitrations in taking up the project related to the 47-km road, which passes through Thoubal, Senapati and Ukhrul districts as part of the Union DoNER ministry's North Eastern State Roads Investment Programme.
The Public Works Department, Manipur and other units implementing the project, have already begun constructing the road.
In a statement, President of CRAM Sanaton Laishram asserted that the project authorities of the road project failed to conduct a detailed impact assessment of the road project, on which the rehabilitation and resettlement is premised and also to apply its safeguard policies, especially related to indigenous peoples.
The ADB funded road project also failed to conduct a detailed Environment Impact Assessment and Management Plan in accordance with the latest safeguard policies of the Bank, based in Manila, Philippines.
Failure to complete the rehabilitation and resettlement for the land acquired for the road project, also constitute a clear disregard of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 .
The Asian Development Bank is obliged to furnish all project documents, conduct a holistic impact assessment and to prepare indigenous peoples development plan based on its latest safeguard policies covering rehabilitation and resettlement, environment impact assessment and safeguarding indigenous peoples rights, wherever they are affected by projected supported by them.
The ADB safeguard policies, widely condemned for its limitations, are not even applied in Manipur, the statement maintained.
The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur would like to urge upon the Government of Manipur and the Asian Development Bank to conduct a full scale investigation of the anomaly and violation of indigenous peoples human rights by the road project funded by ADB in Thoubal and Ukhrul District, Manipur.
The Asian Development Bank should fully implement all provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 in its entire project implementation plan in Manipur and to stop harassment and causing miseries on them in the guise of development, the statement added.