Govt’s decision to commission Mapithel dam premature

IMPHAL | Oct 9

The Mapithel Dam Affected Village Organization has come down heavily against the latest move of the water resource department government of Manipur to inaugurate Mapithel dam in November.

A release signed by Dominic Kashung, chairman of the organisation said it is quite irrational for the project to be inaugurated at this stage as the project proponent is yet to conduct detailed impacts assessment covering loss of livelihood sources, socio-economic, socio-cultural, health, safe drinking water and safety measure of the affected villagers of both the upstream and downstream.

MDAVO maintained the commissioning plan is absurd as the state still fails to rectify the violations of Forest Rights Act (FRA, 2006) and Forest Conservation Act (FCA, 1980) the same still lies unresolved before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

It said the commission plan of the Mapithel dam project is despite serious violation of right to life of the affected indigenous villagers who have been victimised by forced inundation of land, forest, river and livelihood means etc. without rehabilitation and resettlement being properly implemented.

The current target of commissioning the Mapithel dam is quite irrational as the same is despite non-completion of the fundamental components of the project except earth fill-up of the dam, it added.

The release further said the statement of works minister to take up construction of Heirok branch canal from Mapithel dam as misleading.

The commissioning plan is absurd as water supply component of the project still lies incomplete, it said; adding tunnel drilling still runs about 55 percent as per report of the Coastal Project Ltd.

Pointing out that recently there has been incident of uncovering poor quality of the dam that featured several leakages and occurrence of earth fissures and appearance of massive mud siltation, the release contended that the development pose danger to the dam water reservoir.

Further it maintained that forced commissioning of the dam will be a serious violation of indigenous people’s rights as outlined in the UN Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples and also the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteurs on Indigenous Peoples.

It urged the state government to desist the commissioning of Mapithel dam before the controversial issues such as RR are resolved amicably and key components of the project completed in the interest of welfare, humanity and justice.