Dimapur, March 14 (MExN): Community protests over river dams marked a 2 day observance of International Rivers Day (IRD) in Sibilong Village and Toubam Village, under Tamenglong District from March 13-14. The Centre for Research and Advocacy (CRA), Manipur in association with the Citizens Concern for Dams and Development, Sibilong Village Authority and Toubam Village Authority observed the same under the theme, “Let our Rivers Flow Free,” informed a press note from CRA Secretary Jiten Yumnam. “It is aimed at revitalizing the relationship of indigenous communities with their rivers and land and to strengthen their solidarity to defend their rivers and land from all unsustainable and destructive forms of development, such as mega dams, oil exploration etc impacting rivers,” it said. On March 13, a protest meet was held Sibilong Village along the Banks of Barak River where the community voiced out against the possible impacts of 1500 MW Tipaimukh dam, 190 MW Pabram dam, and 67 MW Khongnem Chakha dam over the Barak River and the proposed oil exploration, Trans Asian Railway works in Manipur, it added. Another community protest meet was also organized at Toubam Village along the Irang River on March 14 where the impacts of proposed 60 MW Irang Hydroelectric Project over Irang River was deliberated, Livelihood dependence of river;concern over the proposed dams and their multifaceted and intergenerational impacts; and social and environment impacts of dams were some common themes at both the meetings, it said. The meetings resolved that Barak, Irang and all other rivers in Manipur should be allowed to flow free, it added. “The participants re-affirmed that the land, river, forest and all resources is their life and urged the Government to implement the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 and recommendations of World Commission on Dams, 2000.”
