Imphal Jul 30 UNA: The Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organisation (SIPHRO) Tuesday lauded the recent decision of the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) which disapproved the diversion of 24,329 hectares of forest land in Manipur and Sinlung Hills, Mizoram for construction of Tipaimukh Multi-purpose Hydro Electric Project.
A statement of the organization dispatched to the media today terming the decision as unbiased one, asserted that it was an instant of upholding and securing the interests and rights of the marginalized tribals that were dictated by a coterie from distant power corridors.
“The FAC decision will go a long way to save and preserve the land, forests and rivers on which thousands of invisible tribals are dependent for their livelihood,” the statement signed by chairman David Buhril and secretary Lairemlien Neitham stated.
It was alarming to learn that the total land requirement for Tipaimukh Multi-purpose Hydro Electric Project was more than one fifth of forest land diverted for execution of 497 hydel projects in India. The issue of “diverting” that much area of land bearing 78,16,931 trees and 0.27 lakh bamboo culms along with several endangered species cannot be romantically imagined.
In the absence of any democratic process, necessary information dissemination, confidence gaining process, consent and approval of the people who will be affected, the project remains an imposed one.
Alleging that the social, economic, and environmental cost of the controversial project is poorly accounted, the communities who will be affected have no idea about the possible adverse impacts of the dam.
The FAC has rightly questioned the development effectiveness of the proposed project and placed it in the public domain for collective enquiry.
“With a poor and failed record of implementing policies on dams, the government of Manipur and Mizoram does not qualify to be responsible implementing partners by playing with the lives of its citizens, forests, rivers, and rights in the name of development,” it added.
The FAC report, findings and recommendations could be treated as an eye opener for the government of Manipur and Mizoram and also the dam builders to place a moratorium on Tipaimukh Multi-purpose Hydro Electric Project.
River Tuiruong and Tuivai deserve to be declared as the lifeline for the indigenous Hmar tribal peoples and other river dependent communities. The FAC justly deliver its decision; our democratic nation ought to be proud to have an upright committee to safeguard democracy.
Anti-dam lobbyists have hailed the rejection of forest clearance for the proposed 1500MW Tipaimukh multi-purpose project by the forest advisory committee.
A few days ago, at a meeting convened in New Delhi, the committee, which is a unit of the ministry of environment and forest, declined to accept diversion of 22,777.50 hectares of forest land required for the construction of the mega dam in the Tipaimukh area of Manipur bordering Mizoram.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/forest-advisory-committee-fac-decision-on-tipaimukh-dam-hailed/
