Dam-affected people threaten to boycott state govt officials

Imphal, Sep 15 (UNI) The villagers affected by the Thoubal dam in Manipur have threatened to boycott the state Irrigation and Flood Control Department(IFCD).

Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organisation(MDAVO) chairman R Kasar here yesterday said that the organisation had resolved to boycott the IFCD until a full review of the construction of Mapithel Dam of the Thoubal Multipurpose project was conducted.

The MDAVO had also held a meeting at Ukhrul district earlier, the chairman added.

The meeting, attended by village authorities, youth clubs leaders, village Shanao Long and MDAVO committee members from all the affected villages of the Mapithel area decided to prohibit any entry of vehicles, labourers, contractors, ANSALS Properties and Industries Ltd, Progressive Construction Ltd and other officials working in the Mapithel Dam construction until the demand for review was met.

''The MDAVO has been continually demanding the review of the dam construction with regard to acceptability of the project to the people, environmental and social impact, rehabilitation and re-settlement provisions.

''This review had been called as the Mapithel dam, which began in the early 1980s, has not been completed even after more than 20 years and the affected people's consent had also not been taken. It has also not gone through the necessary environmental and social impact assessments,'' the chairman said.

UNI