Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 29 2010: Manipur government goes ahead with the construction of controversial 1500 MW Tipaimukh Hydroelectric (Multipurpose) Project as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed on Wednesday with National Hydro-electricity Power Corporation (NHPC) and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN) for formation of a Joint Venture Company for implementation of 1500 MW Tipaimukh Hydroelectric (Multipurpose) Project on Wednesday.
NHPC Ltd., SJVN Ltd.
and Government of Manipur shall have a share holding of 69%, 26% and 5% respectively as per the MoU signed in New Delhi, the source added.
This project which will be one of the largest hydroelectric projects in Eastern India to date will be located 500 meters downstream of the confluence of the Tuivai and Barak Rivers in Manipur's Churachandpur district, near the Manipur Mizoram border.
The Project will have a 6 X 250 MW power house and will be completed in an estimated time of 12 years.
The reservoir capacity of this Project is 15.5 billion metric cubes shall be higher by 75% than the Bhakra reservoir.
After completion of this Project, the perennial flood problems in the Barak valley in the State of Assam will be stopped and fertile land in this plain shall become rice bound for entire North East, government expected.
The signing of MoU was amidst the strong oppositions from various sections of the society not only in India but also in the neighbouring state.
Bangladesh government had even assessed the impact of the purpose dam by sending experts of the country and diplomats.
The Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Project (ACTIP) termed the signing of the MoU as "undemocratic" revealing that Manipur government quietly signed the MoU at New Delhi without a clear consent of the people of the state particularly dam affected people.
"The act of the government is highly protest and we will organised a public meeting within short time to resolve future course of action against the government move," Kinderson, a member of ACTIP said.
The meeting will be held after May 4 as members of the body were out of station in Arunachal Pradesh to hold series of public discussion meetings as part of campaign against the proposed construction of various dams and mega projects in the north east, he said.
The meeting will chalk out strategy for intensifying protest agitations against the government move to take up the project without the clear mandate of the people, he said.
The indigenous and tribal peoples of three states of India those are Assam, Manipur and Mizoram and particularly the people from different communities of Cachar, have been building up strong movement against the proposed Tipaimukh Hydro Electricity Project.
If the Tipaimukh dam is constructed it would have adverse impact on the sensitive and vulnerable indigenous peoples as well as on their social, cultural, economic, political, demographic and environment prospect in the three states, they observed.
So the indigenous and tribal peoples of the areas are more vigorous against the dam.
The vigorous indigenous and tribal communities are Hamar, Zeliangrong, Reang, Khasi, Manipuri, Rongmei, Naga Kuki, Jishnu, Nanu Ngai and Bengalis.
Apart from Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Project, organisations like Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), Committee on Land and Natural Resources (COLNAR) and various bodies formed by the affected people are protesting against the project.
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