Karaiba Chawang
Kohima | November 15
Fate of the proposed controversial Rs 10,000 crore Tipaimukh Hydro Power project hangs in uncertainty as the tussle between the Manipur government and anti-dam campaigners intensifies with the latter warning to resort to all possible means to prevent the construction of the said dam, although the foundation stone was scheduled to be laid on November 27 next at Churachanpur district by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
On November 14 last, anti-dam activists called a 24 hour bandh in Manipur so as to thwart Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh from laying the foundation stone slated for November 15. Consequently, the foundation stone laying ceremony has been postponed to November 27. Anti-dam Convener, Samson Riamei, told The Morung Express that even on November 27, the Prime Minister may face public uproar if he comes to lay the foundation stone at Churachanpur on the bank of Tipaimukh River.
On November 17 a public hearing will be held at Churachanpur, while on November 22 it will be held at Tamenlong to decide the fate of this multi-crore hydro project.
A highly placed official source said that the government will be represented by directors, chief engineers, secretaries, commissioners and other technical experts. The public side will be represented by village chiefs, clan chiefs, gaon buras, church pastors and students unions of the affected villages. The public hearing would be conducted purely on the prerogative of respective districts’ deputy commissioners.
Ironically, the official invitation had pleaded intellectual groups like scientists, lawyers, doctors, and other ‘enlightened NGOs’ to stay away from the public hearing. “These public hearing is just an eye wash. The government has already bribed some leaders of the affected villages, and they are forcefully planning to start the project”, said Samson, who is spearheading the anti-dam movement in Tamenlong district.
What is more ironical is that students with qualifications above matriculation and studying outside the villages are also reportedly barred from participating in the public hearing.
Some officials of NEEPCO, when contacted have expressed apprehension that “some commotions” may crop up during the debate as some public may try to disrupt the proceeding of the hearing. “There may be stone pelting and lathi charge on the hearing day, especially in Tamenlong”, said an official on condition of anonymity.
Not only the public of Churachanpur and Tamenlong districts, but Nagas of the four hill districts of Manipur state has opposed the construction of the said dam.
Although, the Dam is proposed to be located at Charachanpur district, villages in Tamenlong district will bear the brunt, said Samson. Reports said Tipaimukh Dam, if completed would consume large chunk of human habitats and forest with catchments area of more than 12,000 sq km, and its adverse impact would not only confine to the two districts of Manipur, Churachanpur and Tamenlong, but would spread to even neighbouring state like Mizoram and Nagaland, and even to Myanmar.
Official survey has estimated that about 12 villages will be totally submerged, and more than 77 villages will be made inhabitable.
With its 15.5 cubic KM of water, the Tipaimukh HEP would be the largest water body in India, three times larger than Tehri HEP, which has 5 cubic KM of water. It is estimated to generate 1500 MW of electricity.
Earlier, in the last Loksha Session, the Union Power in reply to the Mani Charenamei, a Lok Sabha MP from outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, had asserted on the floor of the house that proposed Tipaimukh HEP is “technically-economically unviable, but has to be develop because of certain social reasons”.
Many intellectuals have also started questioning as to what the mean the Union Power Minister implies by ‘social reasons’.
NEEPCO top official, on condition of anonymity has also admitted that, although the government of India has employed the best brain to exploit maximum benefit from the mega project, it has not taken into consideration the future livelihood of the affected villagers, especially the food security.
Asked what will be the fate of multi- crore proposed project if the developers fails to convince the affected public, the official quipped that the public hearing will be only a formality, but it would depend on who writes the reports.
“Practically, the project is not viable, but the Manipur government and the Centre are adamant on accomplishing the project. We are only project developer, we have no say in the decision making”, said the official.
