“Recognise peoples’ right in development process”

IMPHAL | Sept 2

A one day consultation of ‘Protection of Land and Natural Resources in Manipur’ was held at Manipur Press Club, Imphal today.

The consultation was jointly organised by Loktak Project Affected Areas Action Committee, Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organisation, JAC-Mapithel Dam Downstream Affected Peoples, Loktak Fisheries Welfare Association, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur and Committee on Human Rights.

A release said, secretary of Centre for Research and Advocacy, Jiten Yumnam stressed the need for stronger protection of land and natural resources of Manipur. He expressed concern that the current neo-liberal model of development introduced in Manipur has led to expropriation and plunder of land and resources. The policies and projects are introduced without consultation and consent of the people of Manipur, he added.

Pamei Tingenlung, CPNRM expressed concern over the ongoing push for oil exploration in Manipur without the consent of indigenous people and without conducting any assessment of the multiple impacts on land, flora and fauna and the livelihood and survival of communities.

Salam Leinungshi from Thanga shared that many varieties of fishes and plants are extinct and native rice varieties like Taothabi and Moirangphou are almost gone due to the continuous submergence of Loktak. The Ithai Barrage is one of the factors of issue in Loktak, however, the government has blamed the locals for the pollution of Loktak wetlands. President of All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen Union, Haobijam Kumar also expressed for repeal of Manipur Loktak Lake Protection Act, 2006 and to decommission the Ithai Barrage.

Pantiliu Gonmei, Rongmei Lu Phaum shared that the ongoing effort to drill oil in Tamenglong areas and to build dams over the Barak river is a big concern. The indigenous need to unite together and defend the land and resources, she added. The chairman of Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organisation, Dominic Kashung also shared that Mapithel dam has led to submergence of more than 2000 hectares of agriculture land and caused livelihood loss in downstream areas.

Speaker of Zeliangrong Baudi, Majabung Gangmei shared that development policy like Hydro Power Policy 2012 was formulated proposing 10 dams all over the rivers of Manipur. The policy is despite of the failure of many dams built in Manipur.

Chairman of Committee on Human Rights, Phulindro Konsam said that international financial institutions like Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and others facilitating the loot and plunder of land and resources in Manipur through their road and railway projects.

Joy Haobijam of Loktak Project Affected Areas Action Committee, Heisnam Chaoba of Loktak Fisheries Welfare Association and managing trustee of Just Peace Foundation, Anandini also shared their views at the meet.

The participants of the consultation unanimously resolved; to urge the state government and government of India, to decommission Ithai Barrage of 105 MW Loktak Multipurpose Hydroelectric project,  to stop commissioning of Mapothel dam and ensure free flow of Thoubal river, to ban on 1500 MW Tipaimukh dam and 190 MW Pabram dam over Barak river, to stop oil exploration in Manipur and revoke all licences and contracts to Jubilant Energy, Oil India Limited and Asian Oilfields, to repeal all development policies like North East Hydrocarbon Vision 2030, Manipur Hydro Power Policy 2012 and Manipur Loktak Lake Protection Act 2006, to ban financing by international financial institutions like Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency, and to recognise indigenous people’s rights and not to carry out any development processes without prior consent of the people.