Delhi and Naypyidaw had recently countersigned the agreement on continuing the stop-start construction of hydroelectric dam in the Chindwin River viz. Tamanthi Dam Hydro project whose actual site is at Tazone-Lawayyan around 35 km away from Homalin town, Eastern Nagaland, Sagiang Division. The agreement was signed bilaterally between the SDPC government and the government of India during Senior General Than Shwe’s visit to India from October 24 to 29, 2004.
For this project Delhi is mainly involved financially and technologically, for which National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is assigned and the feasibility report for the construction was given by Switzerland’s Colenco Power Engineering, Ltd. It is reported that this Hydroelectric dam is expected to produce 1,200 MW, of which 80% will be sent to Delhi and the remaining 20% will be used in Monywa Copper Mine, Sagaing Division. This statistics itself shows that none of the local people are benefited from it.
The two governments began to commence the work in early 2007 and after a while they kept the work in abeyance till recently. Since the time of construction, it is reported that, more than 2,400 villagers from Tazone and laywayyan villages had already been displaced in coercion without a proper compensation or without any compensation from the junta government. It is estimated previously that the water reservoir of the dam will cover more than 1400 sq km and more than 45,000 people will be permanently displaced. But this report seems inadequate because Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which was commissioned to survey itself complained that the team was not given sufficient time and access to survey by the junta government. It is reported that the Dam would be at the height of 80 (eighty) meters and therefore the water reservoir will cover more than 3,000 sq km and around 100,000 people including Non-Nagas will be homeless because the flood reservoir will reach up to Minsein of Khamti Township (even Khamti town itself is uncertain as measured by the experts). The people who live along the banks of the Chindwin River, Nanteleik/Tizu/Sati River and the Nawin River are 90% agrarians. The water reservoir also will reach up to Yannwe plain on the bank of the Nanteleik/Sati River, the first tributary of the Chindwin River and Kantkodaw Naga village and Monkailin a Kuki village on the bank of Nawin River, the second tributary. Then, this statistics gives a rough view that tens of thousand acres of the agricultural land will be submerged completely. Relocation of the displaced people is also completely unfair. For instance, a man in Maungkhan village who constructed the house by spending 15,000000 Kyats (fifteen million) was informed only 150,000 Kyats in return from the junta government. In New Tamanthi, a Naga farmer who has 15 acres of paddy field in Set Nga Kwin was informed 150,000 Kyats in total where as the present market rate is 800,000 (eight hundred thousand) per acre. Those dislocated villages and people are not given a proper site. The junta said, all the dislocated people have to do “Kotu Kota,” which literally means “self-support” or better “self-struggle.” The villages which are not affected by the flood reservoir are also ordered to share their properties, land, and source of income to those displaced people. Additionally, there are severe corollaries such as health problems, lack of education, unemployment, social problems and environmental issues viz. loss of bio-diversity and destruction of the habitats of precious species flora and fauna, soil pollution, deforestation, etc. Many of the natural resources like gold mine, teak forests and some other precious stuff will be sucked by the Non-locals.
It is a deliberate Human Rights violation, a kind of genocide committed against the innocent people and an open insult to the land owners, the Nagas as this agreement is sorted out without the consent of the Nagas and people there. The Thein Sein government is blowing the trumpet of democracy in Naypyidaw but the actual ground proves their claim to be a lie STILL and the double standard of the junta-baked governement is so clearly seen. To mention more, the junta-backed government is still practicing Human Rights violation, religious exploitation, structural violence, porter and force labor on the Nagas in Eastern Nagaland, Sagaing Divison. Therefore, it is abominable and such construction, at the expense of the innocent human lives and our precious environment, is vehemently opposed. We at the same time appeal to the world to help the Naga people who are suffering under the boots of the junta government mercilessly.
List of the villages which will be effected by the Dam construction
List of the Naga villages and few Kuki villages in Myanmar (Burma) will be effected by construction of Tamanhti Dam Hydro project in the Chindwin River, which is going to be constructed in the heart of Eastern Nagaland and the consequence thereof most of the Eastern Naga people will be suffered to the worst such as losing of their lands, properties and destroying of forest. ...The following villages will be displaced parmenently.
1. Aungdha
2. Aungmyay
3. Autywalay
4. Awthaw
5. Boljang
6. Carlan
7. Charmor
8. Chaungtongkhuat
9. Kantkawdaw
10. Kauktaung (East)
11. Kauktaung (West)
12. Kawlkang
13. Kawya (East)
14. Kawya (West)
15. Ketdha
16. Kounghein
17. Lechige
18. Leivomjang
19. Letpanter
20. Letsaunggan
21. Malin
22. Manli
23. Manpha
24. Manpin
25. Maungkhan
26. Minsein
27. Molon
28. Moron (New)
29. Moronphai
30. Munkailen
31. Nang Out Maw
32. Nantelet
33. Naungkelat
34. Naungpin
35. Naungyin
36. Nounghtongo
37. Nyaunggon
38. Phaikon
39. Phaphoet (New Somra)
40. Phoilin
41. Pinma
42. Richeng
43. Sami
44. Sawpakai
45. Semaing
46. Shangnawle (Lower)
47. Shangnawle (Upper)
48. Shanmaingdaung
49. Shilin
50. Shwelaung
51. Shwetagun
52. Sikipong
53. Sumlaipha
54. Suun-inyan
55. Suutdaungkone
56. Swekawngaw
57. Tamanthi (New)
58. Tanneyan (Upper)
59. Tazone (Already displaced by Janta Government)
60. Teyetkon
61. Thana Jang
62. Thayagon
63. Tüngphayan
64. Twetwa
65. Waadaw
66. Yannwe
67. Bangala
* It is also reported that the agricultural lands and farms owned by the above mentioned villages are more than 30,000 arces and they will be completely destroyed permanently.
Prepared and Compiled by A. Makury
(This write up was posted in the Naga Facebook group "Naga Spear")
