IMPHAL : A rally and a public meeting were held here on Monday to protest against the Centre's plan to construct a dam at Tipaimukh at the trijunction of Manipur, Mizoram and Assam. The Action Committee Against the Tipaimukh Dam (ACATD), formed by 25 civil organisations, organised the protest on the eve of the opening of global tenders by the North-Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO).

It was alleged that the NEEPCO had not obtained forest and environmental clearance for the Rs. 10,000-crore dam. At a public hearing in Mizoram, the people opposed the project. However, no such session was held in Manipur. A NEEPCO official told reporters that a hearing would soon be conducted in Manipur.

As all sections are against the project, the Government proposes to deploy three battalions of security forces to give protection to dam officials and workers.

Earlier, the Thoubal multipurpose dam project undertaken by the Manipur Government was virtually given up as tribal militants raised objections saying compensation for land was not properly paid to tribals. Some officials were killed and others wounded and costly machines were burnt.

Controversy

The Brahmaputra Flood Control Board (BFCB) had conducted a survey of the damage the Tipaimukh dam would cause once it was commissioned. It was reported that 15 villages in Manipur would be submerged.

The State Irrigation and Flood Control department conducted its own survey. The Assembly was told that 100 villages would be submerged — 90 in Manipur and 10 in Mizoram. Out of 311 sqkm of land liable to be submerged, at least 300 sqkm would be in Manipur.

While the BFCB had given details of rehabilitation of villagers in the Barak valley, its report was silent on a package for Manipur villagers. As the BFCB got embroiled in a controversy, it handed the charge over to the NEEPCO. The Manipur Government and the NEEPCO signed a Memorandum of Understanding on January 9, 2003 for the construction of the dam.

Earlier in March 1997, the Assembly, after a threadbare discussion, decided to oppose the construction of the dam, saying that while Assam would gain in all respects, Manipur had everything to lose. Should a major earthquake occur, many people would be drowned, it was said.

However, much water flawed under the bridge and by December 2,1999 the Manipur Government gave approval for the construction.

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