Campaign against Loktak project gains momentum

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 14

Anti-Ithai barrage and Loktak project activists today organised a rally cum public meeting demanding decommissioning of the barrage and Loktak multipurpose project was held today at Sekmaijin community hall.

The public meeting recommended urging the state and central government to decommission Ithai barrage and Loktak multipurpose project for causing huge hardships to the innocent people due submergence of more than 83,500 hectares of land and extinction of flora and fauna including disturbing bio-diversity.

The recommendation also urged National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) to compensate more than 3 lakhs affected people.

The meeting further recommended that the state and central government should investigate and punish NHPC for commissioning Ithai barrage and Loktak multipurpose project without any MOU, improper formalities and for not taking the consent of to the people as well as from the state.

Students of Merciful English School (MES) marched a peace rally from the school campus to the community hall of Sekmaijin. Students took part in the rally by holding placards “save our agricultural land, save our livelihood”, “respect indigenous people’s right”, “go back NHPC”.

Speaking to media, president of Integrated Rural Development (IRDA), Islammudin said Loktak is one of the biggest fresh water lakes in the entire northeast. From the lake many people are earning their livelihood. But since the commission of Ithai barrage and Loktak multipurpose project people living in the surrounding are facing many hardship problems, he added.

Islammudin said with the commissioning of the project not only affected Loktak lake but also affected the surrounding smaller lakes like Ekok, Phumlen, Khomlung lake and other water bodies indirectly. Even the flora and fauna are becoming extinct.

The problems can be solved if Ithai barrage and Loktal multipurpose project is decommissioned, he said.