Chadong village, now turned into a lake
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 17 2015 : Once a beautiful village, Chadong village is now flooded with water from the Thoubal Multipurpose Project built over the Thoubal River (Yangwui Kong) .

The project which consists of Maphou (Mapithel) Dam was constructed against the wishes of upstream dwellers.

With construction nearing completion, water from Thoubal River has started flooding almost all farmlands which belong to villagers of Chadong village.

Strongly reacting against the action of the State Government for not considering the pleas of villagers affected by the project, villagers of Ramrei, Chadong, Riha and Thawai today held a public meeting to reaffirm their stand against the project.

Representatives of Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organization (MSAVO), Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), village authority members and women society of Chadong village took part in the public meeting where they discussed their next move against stopping the Thoubal Multipurpose Project.

Protest staged against the project

Headman of Chadong village, Wungnaoyo commented that the State Government has been constructing the project without taking any consent from villagers in the name of development.

This so called 'development' has forced hundreds of innocent villagers out of their homesteads.

The act is more of human right violation rather than development.

"The Government adopted forceful methods to construct the dam using military might and divide and rule technique on the affected villagers", he added.

Meanwhile, secretary of Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organization (MSAVO) P Grace expressed concern on the plight of the villagers as the river has been blocked by the authorities concerned and the water has begun to submerge the village.

"With the onset of monsoon, Chadong village will be completely submerged in just a week's time and villagers will be forced to become refugees in their own land", said Grace.

He further demanded the construction of Mapithel Dam be stopped and let the Thoubal river flow freely.

He added that the project is destined to fail as it has been constructed against the wish of many people.

Grace added that the project is a covert agenda to acquire land through the Land Acquisition Bill which may be enforced soon in the whole country.

Further he expressed concern that the impact of the dam will be felt well and there is high possibility of natural disaster in the area.

The project has victimized many communities of the State and has destroyed land and natural resources which must be stopped, stated Convener of Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) Jiten Yumnam.

"The way Maphou Dam has been constructed raises serious question on how well it will perform as many multipurpose projects in the State have failed in the past," stated Jiten.

Recommendations of the Expert Review Committee which was formed in 2008 was completely neglected by the State Government in the construction of the project showing signs of aristocracy, stated a pastor of Chadong village in the meeting.

It may be mentioned here that there is a pending case against the State Government for constructing the project from the High Court of Manipur and the National Green Tribunal.

As a sign of unwillingness against forceful blocking of Thoubal River, militarization in the area and destroying the livelihood of the people, villagers held a slogan protest and reaffirmed their stand against the Thoubal Multipurpose Project.