Anti-dam protest gaining momentum in Manipur

Imphal, Jul 22: The Manipur government is in a dilemma over the increasing demand to scrap the proposal to construct Tipaimukh dam in Manipur.

The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation(NEEPCO), the project implementing agency, is awaiting a go-ahead from the Centre to take up the mega dam project worth Rs 6000 crore.

The Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Dam (ACTP) has called a 24-hour bandh from July 27 (6 pm)to July 28 (6 pm) to protest the building of the dam in the state.

The Zeliangrong Youth Front (Imphal zone) has also opposed the proposed construction of Tipaimukh Project against the will of the people. The ZYF (Imphal zone) demanded that the state government should withdraw the MoU signed between the government and NEEPCO in the interest of the general public.

It would support the 24-hour general strike called by ACTIP. It appealed the general public, civil organisations and particularly the Zeliangrong community to co-operate and support the general strike.

Meanwhile, the Horticulture Development Society of Tamenglong said it would extend support to the strike called by ACTIP for immediate revocation of the Memorandum of Understand (Mou).

ACTIP said the state has surrendered more than one third of state land to the Union Government through MoU with NEEPCO just for the sake of 43 MW of water.

The dam would affect more than 7,251.36 sq. km. of forest land, including gardens, 105 villages and displaced thousands of tribal people.

UNI