Imphal, May 13: Rejecting the explanation given by the Engineers in connection with cracks that have appeared on the right side cliff where the spillway of the Thoubal Multipurpose project is being constructed after a spot inquiry today, anti-dam activists have made it clear that the ban imposed on construction of the dam and its related works would remain until a complete review of the whole project.

Accompanied by mediapersons, a joint team of Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) and MDAVO today went to inspect the dam site.

Later addressing a press conference at Louphong village after the inspection, KS Honreikhui, a member of MDAVO, said that when the construction work on the dam was started in 1980, the Government did not take the villagers of the surrounding area into confidence nor they ever thought that it would turn up this way.

However, since the very beginning the villagers have been demanding adequate rehabilitation and resettlement (RR) measures for them.

Subsequently, in 1998, the Government come up with an RR which was not to the liking of the villagers.

In 1993, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed, but the same had not been implemented.

Then over the last five years, the villagers have been urging for reviewing of the project as a result of which an expert review committee was set up in January this year apart from holding five rounds of official meetings to discuss the matter.

However, the terms of reference of the desired review proposed by MDAVO was turned down by the Government.

Inspite of all these, the Government has not taken up any step towards fulfilment of the laid down RR, he complained.

So earlier, the affected villagers have raised the demand for review of the RR.

But now, they have decided to stop construction work of the dam until a complete review of the whole project, Honreikhui said, adding that the ban imposed on construction of the dam since March 17 would stay on.

Irrigation and Flood Control (IFC) Department, which is in charge of the construction work, however, maintained that out of total 518 affected land owners, suitable compensation have been given to 419 of them while part payment to other 99 land owners.

Joint secretary of CCDD Jiten Yumnam who was also present during the press conference asserted that the explanation given by the IFC Engineers in connection with the cracks that have already started appearing on the concrete wall of the cliff where spillway of the dam is being constructed is misleading.

It has been noticed that cracks have also appeared on the area where slope protection have already been done with grasses growing all over the surface.

This shows that no proper testing of the soil had been conducted and the execution of the work was sub-standard, Jiten contended.

While recalling that after the Union Environment and Forest Ministry gave an instruction in December 2006 to put on hold the construction work, Chief Conservator of Forest of the State despatched a letter to the Chief Engineers of the IFC.

However, the construction work of the dam had not been stopped.

This is nothing but non-compliance of its own order by the Government, Jiten contended.

CCDD strongly condemned the attitude of the Government to put the blame on the villagers although the cracks are the resultant of the sub-standard nature of executing the work, Jiten added.

On the other hand, Jiten went on to say, the estimated project cost of the dam has been revised from Rs 47.25 crores in 1980 to Rs 715.81 crores in accordance to the price level of June 2007.But there has been no corresponding increased in the compensation amount fixed in 1980.So, CCDD would continue to support the cause of MDAVO, Jiten declared.

Village secretary of Tumukhong RK Koireng said that right from the construction of the dam upto now, the Govt has not informed the villagers whether they can settled in the down-stream area or not inspite of the fact that roots have been detected in the earth used for construction of the dam, some parts of the COT area have been depressed and cracks have appeared in the main dam for the last four years.

So, the villagers living in the downstream area are living in perpetual fear of the worst thing to happen.

On top of this, contamination of the water flowing in the river, pollution of the air and the jarring sound of the machines throughout the day and night have caused lot of inconveniences to the villagers.

Secretary of the Thoubal Project Downstream Affected Area Committee Takhellambam Dewal announced that the Committee would also be extending its support to the agitation of MDAVO if the Government does take up necessary measures for proper assessment of the dam safety and downstream impact along with coming up with a disaster management plan.

Secretary of Progressive Construction Limited Workers' Union, Thoubal Multipurpose Project Wungreisho Ramung alleged that the construction companies meted out racial discrimination between the labourers coming from other States and local labourers.

The construction work on the 66 metre high and 1074 metre long main dam over Thoubal river is being taken up by Progressive Construction Limited, Hyderabad and that of the spillway by ANSAL, Properties and Infrastructures Limited.

Comment