IMPHAL, July 4: The United Naga Council has sought immediate intervention from the Prime Minister `to rescue the suffering villagers from the submerging waters of Mapithel Thoubal Multipurpose Project.`
A memorandum has been submitted to the Prime Minister in this regard.
In the memorandum, the UNC said the Naga people welcome all forms of development activities and also, changes in our areas but we opposes any form of development aggression in Naga areas.
It said that the controversial Mapithel Dam/Thoubal Multi Purpose Dam Authority has closed diversion channel of Thoubal River since January this year and with the passing of every single day the level of submergence is increasing and now, Chadong Village and its surrounding villages including agricultural lands, forest and grazing lands, graveyards, churches, educational institutions, houses and public places will be submerged.
It continued that the Mapithel Dam has been carrying out without any adherence to the forest and environmental laws of India as well as International norms.
International convention such as UN Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples (Art. 26), the Convention on Biological Diversity (Art. 8(j), the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (Principle 22) and the Convention on Rights and Development and recognized the close relationship of forest dwelling communities and the protection of environment. The Principles and Guidelines on Protected Areas and Indigenous/Traditional People`™s Rights such as Indigenous and other traditional communities`™ rights should be respected in relation to the land, territories, waters, coastal areas and other resources which may traditionally owned, it said.
It has further urged the PM to open the close diversion channel immediately, constitute an expert committee to review the project and ensure life and properties of the affected villagers securely as per the Schedule Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Right) Act 2006.