Imphal, December 13: In addition to boycotting the proposed visit of Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Heavy Industries Minister Santosh Mohan Dev to lay the foundation stone of Tipaimukh Dam on December 16, several anti-dam bodies including the Zeliangrong Union, ACTIP, CCDD, CATD and others have called a general strike with effect from 6 pm of December 15 till 6 pm of December 16.Addressing the media at Imphal today, ACTIP co-convenor Oinam Bikramjit said that the people of the State would boycott the visit of the Union Ministers.

He observed that the initiative of the State Government was aimed at subduing the democratic voices of the people of Manipur, Mizoram and Bangladesh against the disastrous Tipaimukh project.

Joint secretary of CCDD Jiten Yumnam construed that the no objection certificate issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forest based on the Public Hearings held at Darlawn, Mizoram on December 2, 2004 and at Churachandpur and Tamenglong recently was a clear testimony to the despotic nature of the Union Government and its agencies and their taking recourse to armed forces, quite oblivious to the concerns of its won citizens.

The destructive policy pursued by the Union Govt and more particu larly the Govt of Manipur of using armed forces against its people would only reinforce forced usurpation of the land and property belonging to the people of Manipur, Mizoram etc who are dependent on Barak river for their livelihood.

Aram Pamei, convenor of CATD asserted that CATD would stand firm against the Tipaimukh Project and carry on the protest movements until and unless all the steps towards construction of the Dam are dropped.

She also gave an account of the forest areas, flora and fauna, bio-diversity, the majestic Barak waterfall, cultural and religious sites associated with the history and lives of Zeliangrong people which would be submerged forever once the Tipaimukh Project is constructed.

The anti-dam bodies also demanded revocation of the no objection certificate issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest.

They urged the State Government to drop all preparations to lay the foundation stone of the controversial project and to rescind the MoU signed between the State Government and NEEPCO.

They further appeal to the people for cooperation during the general strike.

Meanwhile, reacting to a statement published by The Telegraph in today's issue that Environmental and Forest Clearance concerning Tipaimukh Dam has been obtained, ACTIP has rejected the report as baseless.

ACTIP has cross checked the report, and according to reliable sources from New Delhi no such clearance was given to the Tipaimukh Project at the time of publication of the report.

While demanding immediate clarification from the Telegraph, ACTIP also sought explanation from Minister of Heavy Industries for allegedly misrepresenting people's objection to the Tipaimukh project.

Comment