ACTIP blames Manipur govt. for dismal power condition

Imphal, Aug 24 (UNI) The Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Dam Project (ACTIP) has urged the Manipur government to shelve the Tipaimuk dam project and save thousand of people from desplacement.

It also requested the government to imporve its power supply to the general consumers across the state.

The ACTIP said despite the state generated excess electricity through its various sources, the alleged mismanagement and corruption in the power department denied the common people to have required supply of electricity.

On top of that the government without assessing the benefits of the project, it went ahead for an economically unviable and "controversial Tipaimukh Dam Project against the wishes of the tribal and indigenous people of Manipur and Mizoram", the ACTIP.

The Tipaimukh Dam Project, to be built at the second highest seismological zone of the world only next to California, USA, was already in controversy following its cost and subsequent generation of electricity, the ACTIP said in a statement.

The Public Investment Board (PIB) had also recently observed the project was not viable. " The Tipaimukh Dam Project is not for People of Manipur and it is too heavy for us to surrender one-third of geographical area just for 45 MW of Electric Power", it added.

The Tipaimukh Dam Project will submerge about 293.53 sq. km of arable land and forests, losing more than 7, 251.36 sq km forest land, endangering many rare flora and fauna, besides dislocating and uprooting of thousand of indigenous people from their land".

UNI NS PC RN1446