Nagas oppose Thoubal project

Imphal, Apr 30: All the Naga associations in Manipur, opposing the Mapithel Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose Project), today condemned the Cabinet memo issued on April 24.

The United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women Union, Manipur (NWUM), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights were against the Cabinet's decision to deploy additional security forces at the dam so that it could be constructed without any problem.

At present there is a huge contigent of paramilitary forces, including Border Security Force, Assam Riffles and Indian Reserved Battalion.

The memo also stated that state government will take stringent action against those trying to obstruct the construction process.

However, the Naga organisations have alleged that the government's decision tantamounts to intimidating the people.

The Thoubal project will affect thosands of people and hence an expert review committee has been constituted to look after the rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected people.

Even after four rounds of meeting, nothing has been finalised.

UNI