Strong objections raised against inauguration and commissioning of Mapithel Dam

Imphal, Nov 15: The Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organisation (MDAVO), JAC Mapithel Dam Downstream Affected People (MDDAP) and Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRAM) has express their concern and objection to the proposed plan to commission Mapithel Dam by the end of 2016 which was pronounced by Okram Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur during the month of October, 2016.
Speaking to the media person here at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul, Imphal, Yumlembam Thouna, Convenor, JAC-MDDAP said that the proposed commissioning plan of Mapithel Dam is despite the non-completion of key infrastructure of Mapithel Dam, such as Power Generation, Water Supply and Irrigation facilities, etc. The Plan to commission Mapithel Dam is also despite the absence of a comprehensive downstream impact assessment and an object absence of a plan for rehabilitation and alternative livelihood for communities in downstream areas.
So, there is no reason to cause undue suffering to villagers by commissioning Mapithel Dam, he added.
Yumlembam Thouna also said that the blocking of Thoubal River which have commenced from January 2015 without a detailed impact assessment and a comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement plan of the communities, has led to enormous hardship to communities affected by the Dam both in upstream and downstream areas. The dam has led to inundation of residential areas, schools, churches, agriculture land, forest areas of more than 2000 hectares in Chadong Village, Louphung, Ramrei, Riha and Thoyee Villages, etc.
 The announcement to commission the dam project by simply closing up the shutter gates, black topping roads etc for inauguration is a complete mockery, besides, the people living in the downstream villages such as Itham, Moirangpurel, Tumukhong, Nongdam, Louphong and Maphou have come to face the scarcity of water, loss of livelihood source and survival threat due to the possible dam break, he added.
Yumlembam Thouna further said that the move to commission of Mapithel Dam despite multifaceted violation manifest the undemocratic and forceful nature of the Government and will undermine the rights and interest of the people affected by the dam.
Considering the threats and the livelihood of the people affected by the dam, MDAVO, JAC-MDDAP and CRAM reiterate that IFCD, Government of Manipur should resist from commissioning the Mapithel Dam project until and unless the impending issues are resolved and forced inauguration of the dam will invite unwanted incident which state government should give serious concern, he added.