'Stop Mapithel Dam construction work' reverberates
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 14 2015 : Interna-tional Day of Action for Rivers was observed today at Chadong village, Ukhrul district in the form of a public gathering cum protest demonstration with a call to stop construction work of the Mapithel Dam across Thoubal river (Yangwui Kong) .

The protest was jointly organized by Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organization (MDAVO), Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) and Campaign for Peoples Goal for Sustainable Development (CPGSD) in association with Naga Women Union, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur and the Committee on Human Rights.

Speaking at the gathering, MDAVO chairman Sakha-than said that the Mapithel dam was constructed forcibly without taking due consent of those affected communities.

"It is more of human right violation rather than development.

The Government adop- ted forceful methods to construct the dam using military might and divide and rule technique on the affected villagers", he said .

Advisor of MDAVO Thanmi Kashung expressed his concern on the plight of the villagers as the river has been blocked by the authorities concerned.

Moreover prime agricultural lands and forest areas of Louphung and Chadong have been engulfed.

People protest aagainst Mapithel Dam in Thoubal river

"With the coming of the monsoon, Chadong village will be immersed and the villagers will be forced to be- come refugees in their own land", said Kashung.

He further demanded suspension of the dam construction work and let the Thoubal river flow freely.

Aram Pamei, co-chairperson of CCDD said that the Government is blinded by the term 'development'.

The dam would only benefit the State and the Centre but it will kill the public, she added.

She further said that any development works or pro-jects should have the consent of the people and urged the people to unite and fight for their right to life.

Naga Women Union's vice-chairperson Sumshot Khullar said that the affected communities of all development projects in the State should unite as one to resist all 'development injustice' introduced in Manipur.

Representative of CPGSD Jiten Yumnam said Mapithel Dam has victimized many communities of the State and has destroyed land and natural resources which must be stopped.

The socio-economy of the villages and the environment would be severely affected, he added.

Phulindro Konsam, chairperson of Committee on Human Rights said that the human rights of indigenous peoples affected by the Mapithel Dam should be taken into consideration by the Government.

The gathering urged the State Government to stop the Mapithel Dam construction work and allow the Thoubal river to flow freely.

The speakers asked the Government to work according to the recommendations made by the Expert Review Committee which was formed in the year 2008 after taking consent of the affected villages.

Mention may be made that March 14 is observed as International Day of Action for Rivers to celebrate victories such as dam removal and river restoration all over the world.

It is a day to take to the streets, demonstrate and demand improvements in the policies and practices of decision makers.

It is a day to educate one another about the threats facing rivers, and learn about better water and energy solutions.