THOUBAL, April 9: A public rally was organised by villagers against the construction of Mapithel Dam at the source of Thoubal River by IFCD, Manipur Government today at Kakching Khunou Umathel.
The rally was held to ban the construction of the dam which will built without the consent of the villagers. Protestors held placards with slogans such as `Stop displacement of innocents`™, `Abide free prior and informed consent`™, `Respect Forest Conservation Act, 1980`™, `Review Mapithel Dam construction`™ etc., and demonstrated around the areas of Kakching Khunou Umathel.
After the rally, a public meeting was held at Umathel Awang Leikai community Hall and agreed to ban the construction of the dam at all cost. A memorandum containing the statements made by the villagers was submitted each to the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, Union Tribal Affairs Minister and Governor of Manipur, PK Paul and the Chief Minister.
The meeting was jointly organised by Centre for Youth Development Association, Umathel, Umathel Women Development Association, Community Development Organisation and Life to Life Foundation, Umathel and attended by representatives of Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organisation and Centre for Research and Advocation.
Speaking at the public meeting, MDACTO member, Dominic has said that the dam constructed by the government for the development of the state is not for development but to fill the pockets of contractors. He also questioned whether affecting the villagers and causing them trouble be called development. After the construction of reservoir of the dam on January 15 with security force by blocking the river, fields of Chadong village which is located near the dam was flooded. If the dam is fully constructed the village will be submerged under water, along with neighbouring village, Lamlai village and other villages as well, said Dominic.
He further questioned if starvation and children who cannot get education can be called development.
With the arrival of monsoon season, the bridge laid above Chandong village river will be flooded and will cut off connection with other villages. The village will suffer greatly if their products cannot be sold due to the flood. Also the station of security at the dam has also caused panic among the children and has refused to go to school, he lamented.
Secretary of WAD, Sobita said that the government`™s plan for construction of dams in the name of development is an insult to the indigenous people. Workers hired in the construction of dams and Security force stationed at the dams will cause problems to women and children. The indigenous people should not be made to suffer in the name development, said the secretary.
Large dams should not be constructed at any cost. People suffering due to construction of large dams is one big example, she said.
Afterwards, various statements were taken. The statements are, to stop blocking of Thoubal River immediately and filling up of the reservoir of the dam, to ban construction of dam till all rehabilitation process acceptable to affected communities and their free, prior and informed consent is taken, to resume the Expert Review Committee set up in 2008 by Manipur Government, to halt all militarization process that support Mapithel dam construction immediately, to stop all forms of involuntary displacement if indigenous people affected by the dam as per UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples`™ Right 2007 and recommendations World Commission on Dam, 2000 and to urge the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to desist from financing the Integrated Water Supply Scheme, to draw water from Mapithel for Imphal town.