INPUI: Hmar News & Info

By Jiten Yumnam

The rejection of "Forest Clearance" for the proposed 1500 MW Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project to be built over Barak River in Manipur in India's North East, by the Forest Advisory Committee, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India in July and August 2013 for forest loss in Manipur and Mizoram laid bare the serious contradictions in development decision making in Manipur. 

The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), while recommending the rejection of "Forest Clearance" for the mega project in its meeting from 11 – 12 July and 13-14 August 2013, observed that the forest land required for the project is simply disproportionate to the power generation plan of the project and the per-megawatt requirement of Sixteen (16) hectares of forest land for the project is extra ordinarily high. The total forest area to be affected in Manipur, as claimed by the project authorities, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited already contains 7.8 million trees and 0.27 million bamboo columns. 

The project will also led to massive destruction of forest land and the livelihood of the Hmar people of Mizoram State. A total of approximately 14,634 trees including 11,306 trees below 60 cm girth and another 4.4 million of bamboo columns in 1063.4 hectares of bamboo forest will be permanently lost due to the project in Mizoram. The total loss of trees and bamboo groves in both Mizoram and Manipur due to the submergence by Tipaimukh dam is estimated at over 8 million trees and over 4 million bamboo groves, which is a disturbing and unacceptable figure by any count. Both Manipur and Mizoram falls in the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot , a globally recognized area with rich and diverse flora and fauna species and the Tipaimukh dam project will have direct impact on the extremely valuable and endangered faunal and floral species. 

The "Forest Clearance" rejection for Tipaimukh dam also brought into focus the legitimacy of the "Environment Clearance", conceded by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India on 24 October 2008 despite peoples' objections to Tipaimukh dam in all the five public hearings held from 2004 till 2008. The rejection of forest clearance also confirms that the "Environment Clearance" is based on incomplete assessment of impacts of forest loss and especially on communities livelihood dependence, with due and rightful participation of all affected communities. 

The Government of India has been aggressively trying to construct the 162.8 meters high rock filled Tipaimukh dam, at about 500 meters downstream of the confluence of Barak and Tuivai Rivers, at a revised project cost of Rs. 8,138.79 Crores at September 2008 price level. In 2001, the Tipaimukh Dam Project was approved by the Governor of Manipur under President's Rule without peoples consent. On 28th December 2002, the Manipur cabinet approved the MoU signed between the Government of Manipur and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation. The then Power Minister of India, Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde laid the foundation stone for the project on 15 December 2006. Later, a revised MoU was signed with the Government of Manipur, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited on 28th April 2010, reaffirmed on 22nd October 2011, without obtaining the Free, Prior and Informed Consent of all affected communities. 

The FAC recommendations against "Forest Clearance" reaffirms the longstanding concerns of affected communities that the loss of more than Three Hundred (300) square kilometer of forest land for direct submergence and another Six Hundred (600) square kilometres for compensatory afforestation would not only threaten their survival but would also irreparably devastate a rich ecosystem. Forest is source of life, water, food, identify for indigenous peoples of Manipur and that nothing can compensate the loss of 7.8 million trees and bamboos in over 25,822 hectares of community land due to Tipaimukh Dam. 

The FAC rejection also brought into focus the rationality of the formation of the India-Bangladesh joint technical survey team, in 2012 on Tipaimukh Dam. There are serious challenges as to whether the political decision makers would respect the recommendations of Forest Advisory Committee. Indeed, the Prime Minister of India, Mr Manmohan Singh, offered more stakes to the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dipu Moni, on her visit to India in end July 2013 on the management of Barak River and also in the construction of Tipaimukh Dam even immediately after the FAC rejected Forest Clearance for the proposed Tipaimukh Dam. This is a clear disrespect of the rights, wishes and legitimate claims of all indigenous communities of Manipur, but also a desecration of the sanctity of the much hyped democratic polity of the Government of India. 

A serious concern with the sub group formation and the processes thereafter is the blatant failure to ensure participation of indigenous communities to be affected by the proposed Tipaimukh Dam in Manipur. One wonders what transpired in the Sub Group on Tipaimukh Dam. It will be highly ludicrous for a decision on Tipaimukh Dam construction be decided only by India and Bangladesh as the land, rivers, forests and resources in Manipur belongs to indigenous peoples of Manipur, and hence, their rightful rights to involve in all decision making processes affecting their land. 

The Forest Advisory Committee of MoEF already classified the proposed Tipaimukh dam as one of the most destructive projects in India as its forest submergence alone will be equivalent to 497 other hydel projects across India. One is left to ponder on the rationality of pursuing such highly destructive and unsustainable project. For India, the submergence plan of nearly thirty thousand (30,000) hectares of forest land negates the spirit of the Green India Mission and its commitments made at Rio+20 Global Conference on Environment and Development, Rio De Janeiro in June 2012. 

The sub group formation between the Governments of India and Bangladesh on 28 August 2012 for joint surveys to assess the impacts of proposed 1500 MW Tipaimukh Dam over Barak River in Manipur should respect and adhere to the recommendations of the key observations and recommendations of the Forest Advisory Committee of the MoEF, Government of India. The two countries should refrain from taking any exclusive and arbitrary decision for Tipaimukh Dam construction. The people of Manipur cannot accept any secretive and compromise deals between India and Bangladesh for Tipaimukh Dam construction. 

A holistic thorough assessment of the possible impact of the Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project with the participation of the affected people both in Manipur, Assam and further down in Bangladesh should precede any decision on Tipaimukh Dam. The push for Tipaimukh HEP is amidst the absence of cumulative impact assessment on forest areas in the three districts due to proposed Tipaimukh HEP, proposed Oil Exploration, Trans Asian Railway and National Highway expansion all planned in the catchment area of proposed Tipaimukh dam. The decision making framework recommended by the World Commission on Dams, respecting rights of people, ensuring their participation, option assessment should guide the decision making process of Tipaimukh Dam. 

The Ministry of Environment and Forest and the Government of India should desist from granting Forest Clearance for Tipaimukh Dam and should respect the respect the recommendations of the Forest Advisory Committee on Tipaimukh Dam not to accord "Forest Clearance". The Ministry of Environment and Forest should revoke the 'Environment Clearance' for Tipaimukh dam on 24 October 2008 as it is confirmed that there is inadequate appraisal of forest impacts. It is also high time that the Government of Manipur revoke the MoU signed with National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited on 28 April 2010, reaffirmed on 22 October 2011. 

The Tipaimukh Dam has been aggressively pursued to meet power shortage in Manipur and other parts of India's North East. However, the definition of Manipur's power needs by outsiders without their consultation is a clear cut case of violation of indigenous peoples' right to self determination, to determine their development rights based on their needs, wishes and aspirations. The Government of Manipur should now embark on an alternative model of power generation in Manipur, based on the needs, wishes and aspiration of the people and to minimize impacts on environment. 

Manipur has long ceased to think for itself and rather serve as a loyal facilitator of wanton destruction of its natural heritages for the unscrupulous profit of corporations and their cohorts. It's time rife for the people and also the government of Manipur to start planning for itself and seek alternatives that should culminate into long term sustainability. Planners and those pushing for destructive, unsustainable development should be conscious that Manipur has people sensitive to the commitments and obligations of all concerned, for a sustainable world, centred on people and nature oriented development. 

The Government of India and the Government of Manipur should take the Free Prior and Informed Consent of all affected peoples as recommended by the UN CERD Committee specific on Tipaimukh Dam in 2007. The Government of India should recognize the inherent rights of the people of Manipur to determine its right to development based on the needs, wishes and its aspirations. Any forced and arbitrary development pursued goes against principles of rights and sustainability. 

Imphal, IBN: Initial trends indicated the gap between Congress and others getting wider with the ruling party ahead at 19 seats. NPF was leading on 5 seats, PDF 2, TMC 1 and others 2.

According to latest reports, Congress candidate Chalonlien Amo won the Tipaimukh assembly seat in Manipur defeating his nearest Trinamool Congress rival L Fimate by over 1000 votes.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Works minister K Ranjit of Congress were leading from Thoubal and Sugnu seats respectively in Thoubal district.

Exact vote:-

55/Tipaimukh A/C :
Dr. Chaltonlien Amo INC - 4525
Dr. Lallukhum Infimate AITC - 3639
Ngurrivung IND - 99
Ngursanglur IND - 2894

CCPUR:    The  Sangai  Ex-press (English Edition) Janu-ary 20, 2012 nia suokin Mrs Thangneikim  Fimate  w/o Dr    Lallukhum  Fimate,  55-Tipaimukh A/C a Trinamool Congress candidate chu Janu-ary  19,  2012  zan  dar  10:30 vela Jiri bula 22 Assam Rifles han sumfai Rs. 10,27,450 leh man nia a zieklang angin Ms Jacintha  Lazarus,    District Election  Officer/RO,  Chu-rachandpur chun January 22, 2012  liem  hma a ziek ngeia  Dr Lallukhum Fimate chu hrilfiena ama annawleh a Agent chu pe dingin inhriettir-na zanikhan an suo. Hrilfiena a  pek  theinaw  chun  Model Code of Conduct  dungzui le dan angin hrem thei a ni ding a nih. Hi inhriettirna hi “UR-GENT  Or  IMPORTANT  a ngai a nih.

The Sangai Express chun tangka sum mana um hi Tipaimukh A/C sung voter-hai kuoma Vote inchawkna dinga sem ding niin a zieklang bawk.

Candidate pakhat  sum hmang thei dinga ECI in a bituk chu Rs. 8,00,000 a nih.

Source: Hmasawnna Thar, Jan 21, 2012

Fimate clarifies
IMPHAL, Jan 21: In connection with the news item “Woman held with Rs 10 Lakhs” published in The Sangai Express on January 19, Thangneikeim Fimate of Camp - Hmarkhawlien, Cachar, Assam clarified that the actual amount seized from her possession was Rs 77 thousand only. She further mentioned that her clarification could be verified from Jiribam police station.
TSE

January ni 28, 2012 pha Manipur Assembly election ding le inzawmin zani khan Nomination file ta hai hming tlangzar a ni a, Tipaimukh Constituency a in-candidate hai chu:-

1. Chaltonlien Amo - INC
2. Dr L Fimate - AITC
3. Nrurrivung - IND
4. Hmangkhum Joute - IND
5. H Sanglawm - Jai Maha Bharat Party
6. Ngursanglur - IND an nih.

Via SInlengNews

A hnuoia hi Tipaimukh Constituency, Manipur, a MLA lo ni tah, Pu Selkai Hrangchal a election campaign dan le hmalak dan ding ama ngeia a ziek a nih. – Editor, Inpui.com 

 

Ei hnam tlusie hnung, kei ngir tuma ei mithiem haiin ‘Hnam Inte­gra­tion Steer­ing Com­mit­tee’ an rawt dawk hi Gospel Cen­ternary hmang ta hai rawt suok awm hrim a nih. Hmar hnam hi Gospel hril dartu dinga thlang bik ei ni ti hi the­inghil naw ma niu. Ei mithiem ha’n inpumkhatna that tak an rawt suok hi, ei hnam, ei ram, khawt­lang, kohran insung fak le dawn pol­i­tics a ruol ei khumna dinga Pathien thilt­lawn­pek, ‘God Gift’ ah ngai ei tiu a, inzataka an thu ei ngai hle tul a tih. Tuta ei fe dan ringawt hin chu, mi hnung khawm ei hnawt phak ta naw a ni hih. Pathien in mi hnam hai nek in ram tha bika a min um tira, pi le pu hai kha an lo var ngawt el. Khawvel civ­i­liza­tion intanna khawm tuipang, vadung hnaia mi hai a inthawk a intan an lo ni kha. Hmar hai umna phawt hi vadung tha inhuol velna hmun a lo ni vawng, Israel hai kuoma Pathienin inhluo ding ram chu, tlang hai le ruom hai umna, ram inhawi a lo ti hi, ei ram ngei hi ni in an lang. Khawlai khawm Hmar hai delna phawt phawt hi vadung tha, tlang i huol vel ram vawng a ni hih. Hotuhai thu hi a ngiel a nganin zawm ei ta, Gospel Cen­te­nary hnunga Hmar hai ei ngir­suokna dinga lam­pui tha taw­p­khawk hraw thel der lo ding ni’n ka hriet. An nihai ngei khawm insukhrat zuol hai sienla, Abra­ham Lin­coln angin an thul­tum hai hi an sukpuitling ngei bei­sei ei tiu. Hi naw hi chu ngir­suokna ding thu le hla ei nei ta der nawh.

 

Pathienin rem a ti a thlang suok ka lo ni chun, a hnuoia point hai khu Pathien le hotu hai hri­etin, anni le inrawnin sukpuilt­ing ngei tum ka tih.

 

1. Kum nga sung hi iengkima hnam hotuhai le inrawnin um ka ta, hotu ha’n tul an ti phawt chun inban din­gin in ready zing ka tih.

2. Pathien hnam thlang Israel­hai ngei khawm, thi huoma an inpekna lei chaua ngir­suok an ni angin, kei khawm ei hnam ta din­gin a tul phawt chun Mar­tyr kan pei zing.

3. Hmar hai hi Gospel hril dartu dinga thlang bik ei leiin, ei um dar khawm hi a tha a ngai ei ta, ie umna phawta ringtu hmasa ei ni pei si a, chuleiin Mizo­ram, Chachar, NC Hills , Manipu­rah ei hnam ngir­suok ngeina din­gin ka theina po po suo’ng ka tih.

4. Kum 5 sung hotuhai le thang tlangin sawrkar sin 2000, ieng tin am thun thei nawng ka ta!

5. Hmarhai hi Mizo ind­intu ei ni leiin, ei kalchar hausakna hai hi vawng him tum tlat ka tih.

6. Ei tawn­gin hma a sawn peina din­gin, rem ei nei a tula, hi mawl hi sukpuilt­ing ngei din­gin hma lang ka tih.

7. Chu­rachand­pur phai hi hnam dang hai le ei inchu ani tak leiin, ei khaw del bakah, Rengkai le Ngurte inkar Phaizawl hi, ei hnam tadin­gin hum tum tlat ka tih.

8. Tipaimukh Dam thuah ei mithiemhai le hnam dit­dan thlawp pei ka tih.

9. Tipaimukh biela ei fak zawng­dan hi, mithiem hai le inrawn tlangin, a tha lem a hlawk lem hmusuok tum ka tih.

10. Manipur tlangrama, ei ram a hausa taka, thing le ruo hai khu hlawk nawk zuolin hmang dan ngaituong ka tih.

11. Hmar­cha le aithing hai hi ei mithiemhai le thang tlangin, hlawk lema zawr dan ngaituong ka tih.

12. Khawvel hmu nuom le ngai hlu, ramh­mang­pui ei nei hai khu, hum him tlat tum ka tih.

13. Tlanglo nei suk­tawp ngei ngei ding, a tha lem hmusuok ding.

14. Inchukna thalem siema sawrkar sikul le kohran sikul hai tha nawk zuola an fe pei dan ding ngaituo ding.

15. Ei rama thau­tui zawng meka um hi, hnam tadinga a hlawk­dan ngaituo ning a tih.

16. Ei rama Hos­pi­tal tha le reg­u­lar tak sarkar le NGO mimala a hawng thei ding kolut ning a tih.

17. Pherzawl ADC sukpuitlinga ei hnam ta bik a ni ngeina din­gin hma lang ka tih.

18. Hnam dan­g­hai le inremna tha lem intlun ding.

19. Lam­pui tha siema, Hmar­biel, Van­gai, Tuiruong dung infepawna tha nawk zuola, BRTF in siemtir ding, Mizo­ram le infe pawna Tuivai leilak an rang thei anga siem ding.

20. Kum 5 sung intinin a tlawm taka Rs.500000/- bek an inkhawl ngei dan ding ngaituo pek ngei ding.

21. Vant­lang hriselna ngaipaw­imaw zuol ning a ta, intinin ekin (Scep­tic Tank) an nei ngei ding.

22. Kum 5 sun­gin, in than aw tak khawm thin­gat in, a chung rangva in neitir vawng ding.

23. Rural Bank le Bank dang dang, a thei thei, sawrkar hri­et­pui ngei in hawng tir ding.

24. Tha­lai­hai sport tienga sukhrat zuola, khawvel huopa hlangkai ding.

25. Hmar hai sum­dawngna tieng hma ei sawn dan ding, ngaituo ngei ngei ding.

26. Look East Pol­icy hi, ei hnam in a hlawkpui ve ngei dan ding, ei mithiemhai le ngaituo tlang ding.

27. Hmar ha’n com­pany le agency ind­ina, sum­dawngna lien lem ei thaw dan ding mithiemhai le ngaituo tlang ding.

28. Tipaimukh biel, Van­gai tlang, Hmar­bielah an rang thei anga elec­tric Mizo­ram sup­ply tu khu zawm ngei ngei ding.

29. Ran­vaitu hai an hlawk lem dan ding ngaituo pek ding.

30. Hmar Lit­er­a­ture theitawpa sukhrat ding.

31. Kumtin IAS, IPS, IRS, Cen­tral Ser­vice a Hmar nau panga bek an lut thei dan ngaituo ding ei mithiem hai le inrawnin.

32. Bufai ei rama a tam taka Kg khata Rs.5/- a iengtik lai khawm hmu ding.

33. Tarhai tha nawk zuola enkawla, kum 60 a inthawk sin rinum thaw ta lo ding.

34. Tourism tieng hma nasa­taka lak ning a tih.

35. Ei mithiem hai le inrawnin Chris­t­ian Mon­u­ment a tam thei anga siem ding, Gospel intanna ei ni leiin.

a)    Sen­von Gospel intanna.

b)    Zohnath­lak hai laia Pathien hla phuok hmasa­tak Rev. Thangn­gur a hla phuokna hmun, Vawm­palung, Lungth­ulien khuo kawl.

c) Rev. Thangn­gur tawng­taina puk, Phulpui, Van­gai tlang.

d)    Arthatzawl, Sen­von khuo kawl, etc.

36. Tha­lai­hai lam­pui tha a thuoia, an sin ding ngaituo peka, thabona hi sukbo ngei ngei ding.

37. Ei rama inruithei thil hrim hrim sukbo vawng ding.

38. Tui naran dawn lova, tui thiengh­lim (min­eral water) ngei dawn vawng ding. Water sup­ply khawtina reg­u­lar taka um ding.39. Tha­lai hai an tal­ent hai zawng suok pek ding.

40. Lekha thiem bik hai thang­puina ding le for­eign chena an inchukna ngaituo pek ding.

41. Hmar lai inhman­gaina, inpumkhatna suk deta, media suk hrat ning a ta, Chu­rachand­pura Hmar in Cable nei ve ngei ding.

42. Hmar rama hnam dang sum­dawngmi lo thei lo a ni khawma inlut tir lo ding.

43. Hmar hnath­lakhai inpumkhatna sukdet tuma, ei kalchar thu a theitawpa hma latu ei mithiem Pu L.Keivom le a raw­i­hai hma lakna hi thlawp tlat ka tih.

44. Ei ram hi a tangkai thei ang taka mithiemhai rawna hma lak ding.

45. Ei ram rohlu raw­tuoi hai hi Hotel insang le vai ram, for­eign chena thawn­suok dan ngaituo ding.

46. Hand­i­craft fak hmuna khawpa hmang tangkai ding.

47. Ei rama cor­rup­tion sukbo hmak ding.48. Hmar Inpui thu le hotuhai thu inza hleng ka tih.

49. Inchukna tieng ngaipaw­imaw zuol ning a ta, AIDS that naw zie hi nasa deuva in hril hriet ning a tih.

50. Ei ram Tipaimukh biel hi a thei phawt chun for­est pek lo ding.

51. Hma­sawnna thurel (infra­struc­ture) ei rama a tam thei ang in umtir ding.

52. Ei rama mon­u­ment ni thei­hai zawng suoka, mithiemhai le theitawp suo ding.

53. Ei ram kohran ha’n sawrkar tha hratna sawra an um ve thei dan ngaituo ding.

54. Nau­pang hriselna ngaipaw­imaw ning a ta, nuh­mei nau­pai lai hai dout ni hleng an tih.

55. Ei rama thil hlu zawng­suoka, a hlutna ei hnamin sawr ngei ding.

a. Thau­tui zawng meka um

b. Lung­mei­hawl Tin­suong rama um, etc.

56. Thiltha thawtu hai chaw­imawi ngei ngei ding.

57. Cachar, Khaw­bawn rama hnam dang luthai hi, hnam hotu hai le ngaituo tlang ding.

58. Inremna le muongna ngai paw­imaw ning a tih.

59. Hnam lo htuoi hmasat­uhai in le lo ngaituo pek ning an tih.

60. Iengkima Hmar mithiemhai le inrawn tlangin hma lak hlak ning a tih.

61. India khaw­puia ei ni mi umhai le iengtik­lai khawm inza­wmna um zing a tih.

62. Hmar mi sawrkar offi­cer lien pen­sion hai hi, ei hnam ta dinga sawr tangkai tum ning an ta,

Zohnath­lak hai laia Gov­er­nor (Polit­i­cal Appoint­ment) ni hmasa­tak tum ding.

63. Tipaimukh hi suk vula, Manipur life­line hiel in ni tir ding.

64. National High­way 150 hi ani ang taka ni zing ding le Tipaimukh chen an rang thei anga lam­pui siem tlung vat ding.

65. Fishing/Fishery ngai paw­imaw ding.

66. Nga manna hai hi mi tam­tak tak fakza­wng theina din­gin ngaituoa, mithiemhai le hma lak ding.

67. Tipaimukh le Silchar inkar hi Motor Boat changkang lem in fe tira, Aizawl – Chu­rachand­pur hai chen thuomh­naw phur lut ding.

68. Chu­rachand­pura ei hmun le hmang, leilethai, Tid­dim Road a inhmun hai hnam dang kuta pek lo ding.

69. Chu­rachand­pura ei ni mi i enkawl sikul le col­lege hai hi, ei mi thiemhai le inrawna theitawpa thang­pui ding.

70. Hnam dan­g­hai elna lun­gril tha­lai haiin an put nawkzuolna dinga ei mithiemhai le hma lak ding.

 

Hnam inpumkhatna dittu,

Selkai Hrangchal,

Imphal

This video forms a series of discussions on the proposed Tipaimukh Dam in India's northeastern states of Manipur and Mizoram. The speaker is Mr L.Keivom, a retired Indian Foreign Service official and well-known writer and social commentator. He is also a columnist for Inpui.com and has contributed 60 articles in two years to this website.

This is one of the videos from National Seminar on Tipaimukh Dam which was held on Dec 12-14, 2010 at Rengkai, Churachandpur, Manipur.

 

Watch the video and please share your views.

 

 

Ruonglevaisuo estuary in Tipaimukh along Manipur-Mizoram border  is of great cultural importance to the Hmar tribe of North East India. According to Hmar elders, this estuary was considered  'Pielral Kawtsuo', a place where the dead departs from earth to begin another journey.

To see full size photo click here

Rengkai: A national seminar on the proposed Tipaimukh Dam was held from December 13 to 14, 2010, here in Churachandpur district of Manipur.

Prominent personalities from the Hmar tribe and other stakeholders participated in the event discussing various aspects of the mega project.

Aptly titled, “Dialogue on Dam and Development”, the North EasternCouncil-sponsored two-day event organised by the Manipur University witnessed floods of ideas with regard to the controversial Tipaimukh dam on Tuoiruong (Barak) river. Resource persons from various walks of life talked about the past, present and future of the project.

“The proposed Tipaimukh dam can create avoidable misunderstanding,” said L Keivom in his speech on the opening day of the seminar. The retired foreign diplomat who graced the occasion as chief guest also opined that the project “needs to be reviewed” from all angles.

       

 

Inpui.com brings you video clips from the seminar (English Session).

Activist Medha Patkar spoke to Sanjib Kr Baruah on what the dam network in Arunachal would mean.

It is said hydropower is renewable, non-polluting and environment-friendly. Why the opposition on just these grounds?
India generates 25 per cent of energy from hydro electricity, but it is not necessarily clean and cheap as claimed. It doesn’t make the air look black like in the case of thermal energy. But it pollutes the river, the environment, destroys prime agrarian land. There are displacements and loss of livelihood of the people living in these areas. Upstream and downstream impacts take place only after the projects become fait accompli. There are forests destroyed and a huge toll on land. The other issue is that there are no proper cost benefit analyses. And in the Northeast, there are questions on seismic vulnerability also.
India has about 5, 000 large dams and till date, not a single large dam has been checked even once by the Planning Commission. Moreover the promised benefits never seem to be reaching the tail end of the community spectrum.

You have come back from a visit to some of the dam sites in the Northeast. How do you read the ground level situation?
In the proposed projects, there are no viable stakes for the affected people. On top of that, there has been no consultation with local communities. Community consent is very important and crucial. This is not being done in the Northeast. Only the riparian state governments have been consulted, but what about the people? It is a classic case of the industrial economy benefiting at the cost of the agrarian economy.

Moreover, how much of power does the Northeast need? A maximum of 6,000 MW. So the rest — out of the total planned 63,328 MW — will be transported to mainland India. How much power will you exploit from one particular region and at what cost? This is exploitative and amounts to internal colonisation. Local populations always should have the first right to resources. You cannot compel them to bear the cost.
And now a very powerful grassroots movement is building which has activists, peasants, lawyers, students, scientists, in a single fold that is raising pertinent questions. Not much space has been given in the national media on this as the Northeast is on the political periphery.

So how do you reconcile with the country’s developmental needs?
The issue is not power but energy. All other modes need to be explored. It is time for really renewable sources like solar, tidal waves, biomass or even micro dams. For instance, gobar gas has the potential of generating 20,000 MW in India. How have we tried to exploit it? On the other hand, USA has not built a single large dam since 1994 because of a moratorium.

Our environment impact assessment mechanism is also making fundamental procedural mistakes. Are we taking transmission and distribution losses into account, as the power in the Northeast will be brought to the mainland? There should be a thoroughly comprehensive cost-benefit study.

It has been pointed that a dam network in the Northeast is of strategic importance vis a vis China?
How can that be? China is upstream for most of our rivers. On the contrary, we should be raising issues over China’s plan to build dams across the Brahmaputra as river basins have far reaching national and international linkages.

If these 168 dams do take off, what do you visualise in the future?
In the Northeast, the downstream impact will be immense. Already the region is disturbed with insurgencies, illegal immigration, etc. The dam network will add a host of problems to the already existing ones. Rivers will die out, the fragile environment will be in ruins, natural resources-based communities will be destroyed, many livelihoods will disappear. There will be no end to it all really.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times

The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite

Churachandpur: Adding to the headache of the Govt that is cornered by the another spate of Nagas economic blockade and a sense of denial by other tribal bodies, the Hmars, a dominant tribe of Tipaimukh where the multi-crore Tipaimukh dam is set to developed now wants a separate district under the provisions of the sixth schedule in the Indian Constitution.

‘We were aware that this (demand for sixth schedule) is a state subject, but hopeful of its realisation with Tipaimukh dam as the bargaining chip,’ Chawngthanglien, the Chairman of Tipaimukh district demand committee said today.

Under the slogan ‘No safe guard, no dam’ the committee said there is an urgent need to solve the existing plights and grievances being faced by the Hmars.

The demand for creation of autonomous district under sixth schedule was meant for political safeguard and socio-economic security to the people affected by Tipaimukh dam, it added.

The area surrounding Tipaimukh is the ancestral land of the Hmars, which was listed as schedule tribe in the constitution and entitled to enjoy political safeguards. The demand for Hmar district in Manipur is not new. The Hmar District Demand Committee (HDDC) in the early 90s had already submitted several memoranda to the Govt of India.

There is apprehension that without that safeguard the local people will eventually be deprived of their ancestral land and properties.

Otherwise, the chances of public unrest and political instability are huge, said the committee.

Thirty polling stations under Tipaimukh sub-divisions, seventeen in Thanlon, six in Henglep and eight in Jiribam were included in the map the committee has presented before the media.

When asked the reason for demand for the sixth schedule and a full fledge district for Tipaimukh, the committee said they were just initiating issue.

On their course of action to realise the demand, ‘it will be non-violent’ for now said the committee’s chairman Chawngthahlei.

SHILLONG, July 31: Bangladesh today made it clear that it has no problem with the proposed construction of the 1500 mega watt Tipaimukh Hydroelectric project in Manipur if India does without harming its environment and jeopardizing rights of its citizens.

“Bangladesh has no problem with the construction of the project if the Government of India can do without harming and keep in mind grievances we have already expressed,” Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board chairman Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam said speaking to Imphal Free Press here.

The Bangladesh official (Islam) is in Meghalaya’s capital Shillong attending the “Empowering North East Summit” jointly organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Meghalayagovernment at Hotel Pinewood. “There is cynicism in our people that construction of Tipaimukh dam would pose negative impact on our environment and jeopardize our rights. But if the Indian government can do by keeping all these problems in mind and without harming, there will be no problem,” Islam said.

The stand taken by Bangladesh to accept the project with condition as expressed by Islam, assumed significance days after the assurance made by Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Vincent H Pala who endorsed the stand of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tipaimukh that “India would take Dhaka into confidence before going ahead with the project, so as not to hamper the friendly Indo-Bangla ties.”

However, though India's government- owned NHPC Limited had already floated a joint venture company with the government of Manipur and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Limited on April 28 last for implementation of the 1500 MW Multi-Purpose Project, Pala also maintained that views of the local indigenous people will be also taken into confidence before going ahead with the project. The project would be located 500 meters downstream of the confluence of the Tuivai and Barak Rivers in Manipur's Churachandpur district just 100 km off from Amalshid border of Jakigang of Sylhet district of Bangladesh and is likely to affect two major rivers of Bangladesh, namely the Surma and the Kushiara and another 60000 Manipuri people who depend on the river for livelihood and other activities.

Bangladesh government had sent a team of experts and diplomats to assess the impact of the proposed dam on the livelihood of its citizen living downstream. Bangladeshi experts estimated that the massive dam will disrupt the seasonal rhythm of the river and have an adverse effect on downstream agriculture and fisheries. According to the Bangladeshi experts and environmentalists, the dam would have adverse impacts on the ecology, environment and economy of the northeastern region of Bangladesh. The proposed dam falls at the confluence of Indo-Burma, Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese biodiversity hotspot zone.

These areas are characterized by the presence of a large number of plant and animal species, like tiger, hillock gibbon, hornbill, turtle, dolphin etc. many of which are not seen or seldom witnessed in other parts of the world.

The Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Project (ACTIP) consisting of local people of the affected area of the project have strongly opposed the construction of the dam. ACTIP has also termed the signing of the MoU as “undemocratic” accusing the Manipur government of going ahead with the project without taking the local people’s consent. Apart from ACTIP several organisations like Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), Committee on Land and Natural Resources (COLNAR), Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organisation (SIPHRO) and others are protesting against the project on the ground that the Tipaimukh dam would have adverse impact on the environment and socio-economic lives of the local people living near the project area in the states of Manipur, Assam and Mizoram.

The Imphal Free Press

Lalmalsawm Sungte

May 10, 2010: The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed by the Government of Manipur with the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) and Shimla-based Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVN) for building the controversial 1500 MW Tipaimukh Hydroelectric (Multipurpose) Project has been outrighly rejected by human rights activists coming under the banner of Sinlung Indigenous People Human Rights Organisation (SIPHRO).

“It (MoU) is without the prior, informed consent and approval of the Sinlung-originated Hmar indigenous peoples who has been peacefully co-existing with river Tuiruong and Tuivai since time immemorial,” SIPHRO Secretary Mr. Lalremlien Neitham said in a press statement released on Monday.

Demanding that guidelines of the World Commission on Dams (WCD), which stated that “no project should proceed without the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples”, be followed by the three parties SIPHRO said that the MoU “is without the understanding of the Hmar people who are living in the proposed Dam site.”

NHPC and SJVN had signed an agreement with Manipur government on April 28, 2010 at Faridabad which gave the two firms 69 per cent and 26 per cent share in the proposed project.

Terming the deal as a “unconstitutional, discriminating, unjust, and undemocratic”, SIPHRO said, “it threatened Hmar indigenous people’s citizenship and democratic rights (over their), land, rivers, forest, natural resources.”

Taking a dig at the NHPC’s track record with hydro-power, SIPHRO said, “it is alarmingly poor in all the important aspects. If one looks at NHPC’s performance, in case of Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, Chamera I and II projects in HimachalPradesh, Loktak project in Manipur, Koel Karo project in Jharkhand, Lower Subansiri project in Arunachal Pradesh, Teesta Low Dam stage III project in North Bengal, Salal and Uri projects in Jammu and Kashmir, Dul Hasti project in Jammu and Kashmir, Baira Saul project in Himachal Pradesh and Tanakpur and Dhauliganga projects in Uttaranchal, Rangit project in Sikkim, it is evident that NHPC severely failed in good practices, creating irresponsible disaster to land, people and resources, displacing people without proper relief, rehabilitation and resettlement measures, violating human rights, huge cost and time overruns, causing construction related disaster, poor social and environmental standards.”

SIPHRO also stated that NHPC did not even have an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment of its projects. “Worst, NHPC have also, in many cases, failed to avail free, prior information for the affected people,” Mr. Neitham stated.

Coming down heavily on the Government of Manipur to declare the MoU as “null and void”, the human rights body which has been advocating ‘people-first approach’ said the state has a “failed record of implementing policies on dams and any development projects, breakdown of law and order and governance. It does not qualify to be one of the implementing agencies by playing with the lives of its citizens, forests, rivers, and rights in the name of development.”

“The Government of Manipur should not exploit the strength of its militarised State to built Tipaimukh Dam,” SIPHRO warned. SIPHRO further said that it people will “never accept” the deal sign by the three agencies as it was “a document for mass destruction.” “It is not acceptable (to the people),” Mr. Neitham said.

Tipaimukh (Ruonglevaisuo) is situated in a strategic location. Earlier it served as the main centre of the Hmars who are now divided by state boundaries of Manipur, Mizoram and Assam.

Underlying the importance of the proposed dam site, SIPHRO said: “Although river Tuiruong and Tuivai, the proposed damned rivers for Tipaimukh Dam, which was indiscriminately used as political boundary, divides our people in different States, our diverse cultural, social, political, environmental realities and struggles are one and the same.”

It may be noted that after many years of the withdrawal from Tipaimukh constituency, the Government of Manipur and state actors has been projecting the Tipaimukh Multipurpose HEP as the vehicle to redress the social, economic, and political exclusion and injustice to the development and governance deprived people of the region.

“The recent MoU itself was another (mark of) corruption that was covertly signed behind closed doors by negating the existence of the Hmar people and their democratic and citizenship rights,” the statement added.

Claiming that SIPHRO has been fighting for the basic rights of the Sinlung-originated indigenous peoples, SIPHRO said it “will not never accept” the deal, even as it demanded the “Government of Manipur, implementing agencies and financial institutions to responsibly withdraw from funding the planning or construction of Tipaimukh Dam.”

http://mizoramexpress.com/index.php/2010/05/rights-body-demands-scrapping-of-tipaimukh-dam-deal/

The ministry of power continues to bat for the speedy implementation of the controversial 1,500-mw Tipaimukh hydropower project in Manipur. The project, slated to be one of the largest hydel projects in east India, has been plagued by delays including protests from the local people.

While the agreement for a joint venture company between NHPC Ltd, SJVN Ltd and Manipur government, to execute the hydel project, is yet to be signed, nearly 1,641 hectares of land have been identified for afforestation. The issue of compensation to the project-affected people is also being sorted out.

Power from the project will be allocated in proportion to area of submergence, at regulated rates. The entire power will, however, be allocated to the northeast subject to the condition that there is demand from the region, that the states have the paying capacity, and that they are willing to enter into long-term power purchase agreements.

The Tipaimukh hydropower project envisages the construction of a 162.8m high rockfill dam at 500m downstream of the confluence of Tuivai and Barak rivers. Apart from power generation, the project is expected to control floods on 2,039 sq. km of land. The total land requirement for the project is about 31,950 hectares of which 26,237 hectares are forestland while 5,713 hectares are privately owned.

Project Profile

Project
Tipaimukh Hydroelectric Project

Promoters
NHPC Ltd, SJVNL and Government of Manipur

Capacity
1,500 mw (6x250 mw)

Location
500m downstream of the confluence of Tuivai and Barak rivers in Churacchander district, Manipur, near Manipur-Mizoram border.

Completion
12 years (estimated)

Cost
Rs 9,211 crore (estimated)

projectsmonitor.com

Silchar, April 28: The 1,500MW Tipaimukh hydroelectric project in Manipur may finally see the light of the day. A memorandum of understanding was signed in New Delhi today by Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN), NHPC Ltd and the Manipur government to jointly develop the project.

The project has witnessed stiff opposition from Bangladesh, intense diplomatic parleys between India and its eastern neighbour and protests by tribals in Manipur and Cachar.

At the centre of controversy is a proposed dam for the hydel project to be built on Manipur’s Barak river that branches into the Surma and the Kushiara rivers after entering Sylhet district of Bangladesh.

The dam could affect water flow into Bangladesh. It will also impact the livelihood of around 60,000 people.

The Bangladesh government had been voicing its concerns since the project was conceived.

In July last year, a 10-member joint parliamentary committee from Bangladesh had visited the project site and studied the possible impact of the project.

Bangladesh Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to go ahead with the project.

In a joint communique issued after the three-day visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in January, Manmohan Singh had reiterated that “India would not take steps on the Tipaimukh project that would adversely impact Bangladesh”.

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh had also said the central government would take a fresh look at the project following protests in Manipur and Bangladesh.

By regulating excess water, the Tipaimukh project is expected to help control floods in Sylhet, western Manipur and southern Assam.

It will also open a new waterway from Haldia port in Bengal to the Northeast via Bangladesh.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 8,138 crore. NHPC will pick up a 69 per cent stake in the joint venture, while 26 per cent will be held by SJVN and the remaining 5 per cent by the Manipur government.

The NHPC stock gained marginally by Rs 0.15, or 0.50 per cent, to close at Rs 30.40 on the BSE.

“After a meeting of the shareholders at New Delhi today, the MoU was signed in the afternoon,” a source close to the development said.

A detailed project report will now be prepared after which the final impact of the project could be known.

Earlier, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation had also prepared a project report.

“However, a fresh study will be done,” the source said.

Courtesy: Telegraph

  *Hmar students want link-bridge over Tuivai river to facilitate links with Mizoram during monsoon

By Lalmalsawm  Sungte

April 24, 2010: Churachandpur district commissioner Ms Jacintha Lazarus’ surprise one-day visit to Hmar villages in Manipur’s Parbung sub-division on April 21 has set people talking about development issues again and the Tamilian IAS lady officer herself.

According to reports received here, the people were so impressed by Ms Jacintha’s desire to meet them that in very villages she was “warmly received by the locals who aired their grievances without any reservations.”

Sources said that Ms Jacintha was scheduled to attend only the District Level Co-ordination Committee Review Meeting at Thanlon sub-divisional headquarters on April 20. But on the morning of April 21, she changed her plan and headed for Parbung sub-divisional headquarters, which is some 80-plus km away from Thanlon.

“Ms Jacintha told her team to take her to Ruonglevaisuo (Tipaimukh) area where there is practically no functional government machinery. She had always wanted to see for herself the ground realities,” the source added.

The commissioner’s team made brief stoppages at Pherzawl, Damdiei,Taithu, Parbung, Lungthulien and Senvon villages.

At Parbung sub-headquarters representatives of Hmar Welfare Association and Hmar Students Association met Ms Jacintha at the IB Center and submitted their grievances in writing. “We asked her to speed up the reconstruction work of NH-150 connecting Mizoram and Manipur,” they said over phone.

Members of the Tipaimukh Area Development Front (TADF) also asked Ms Jacintha to take up re-construction work of Tuivai Leilak (bridge) to facilitate links with Mizoram during the monsoon season. Another prominent demand of the representatives was the construction of a Mini-Sport Stadium at Parbung.

The sub-divisional staff members who accompanied Ms Jacintha literally turned purpled when they were openly snubbed by HSA leaders during the reception function held at Parbung. “The SDO and TD Block staff members and the medical officials are present today here just because of you. We don’t even know their names,” they told the district magistrate, who looked stunned.

And in Lungthulien village, the TADF members informed Ms Jacintha that Tipaimukh constituency never got the 9000-metric tonne rice sanctioned by the Central government last year in view of mautam. “In the Agriculture Input Subsidy people in Tipaimukh area are given just Rs.1000/-while other subdivisions got Rs 2000/-approx,” Ms Jacintha was informed.

To take action

Listening patiently to the people and their angst against state government officials, the district commissioner assured them that she will take necessary steps to make corrective changes once she is back in office.

An analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Ms Jacintha’s approach and strategy is completely different from her predecessor Mr Sumant Singh. “Mr Sumant Singh was like a stamp sent by vested groups. This young lady is his opposite,” another observer said.

Ms Jacintha had already visited Vangai TD Block under Tipaimuk sub-division last month to take stock of the ground realities. It may be mentioned that Churachandpur district was and is still the stronghold of militants. However, if one is to go by the current situations, Ms Jacintha has garnered an unwavering support of all sections of the people with her USP- development. But, the question in everyone’s mind is whether this “brave” Indian civil servant from Tamil Nadu has the guts to carry forward her development plans in this trouble-torn part of the country. Only time will tell.

Imphal, April 16, 2010: A huge protest rally was taken out in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Friday demanding scraping of Mapithel and Tipaimukh dam projects in Manipur and other mega dams in the north eastern region of the country. Over 2000 people of Ukhrul including affected people of the Mapithel Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose) projects, Tipaimukh Hydro (Multi-purpose) project, students and general public of Ukhrul carried out the protest.

Marching through different streets of the town in the district headquarters, the rally originated from two points, Hundung Junction and Kharasom Junction and concluded at Tangkhul Ngana Long Ground after submitting a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of the district for onward submission to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohon Singh to scrap the two mega projects.

The protestors alleged that constructions of the dams were “blatant violation of rights to life and livelihood”. According to them, the Tipaimukh Hydro (Multi-purpose) project was opposed from its very conception but the Manipur government passed it through without people’s free, prior and informed consent.

Speaking at the public meeting, president of the Tangkhul Katamnao Sanglong (Tangkhul Students Union), Wungnaoshang A Shimray said the construction of the Mapithel Dam without proper rehabilitation on resettlement programme based on expert review committee constituted by the government of Manipur was a clear disregard to the voice of the affected people.

Today’s protest rally was organised by the Tangkhul Katamnao Shanglong (TKS) under the sponsorship of the Citizen Concern on Dam and Development, Imphal, Mapithel Dam Affected Village Organisation, Mapithel as part of International Day of Action for Rivers.

Courtesy: Nagaland Post

Guwahati, April 7, 2010: Social activists in the Northeast are being victimised by the state for opposing dams and industry. Many are being branded as Maoists and ULFA with one of them being a national award winning RTI activist.

Chairman of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti Akhil Gogoi has been branded a Maoist even though he is a national award winner for his RTI activism.

"Much before the National Tribal Forest Act, we have been fighting for forest dwellers of Northeast. They have to get their patta (papers) and forest rights. This is Assam's biggest movement now," he says about his cause.

However, a report mentions Gogoi's apparent meeting with Maoists in Golaghat district of Assam. Bhuban Pegu, a Missing leader and another social worker has also been named as a Maoist. Under pressure the Assam government has now admitted that the report was an error.

"They have been named as Maoists, also as Hujis and as ULFA, NDFB supporters. Why? Because we have been coordinating and working together against the construction of big dams in Arunachal Pradesh and we have been demanding local patta for ordinary farmers," says Ganasakti MLA Bhuban Pegu.

he Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti has been opposing big dams like the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri Dam project in the ecologically fragile Brahmaputra basin.

They've also been demanding land for marginal farmers and there have been vicious crackdown on their protests. It's a trend echoed in Manipur. NGO worker Jiten has been against the proposed Tipaimukh Dam.

He was arrested under the National Security Act in September 2009 and later released. His medical report mentions severe pain in private parts due to electric shock.

It is not just Manipur or Assam as activists have also been threatened in Arunachal Pradesh as well.

Dissent of any kind is not only being dubbed as anti-state and anti-development, it's an either with us or them approach seems to be the only rule.

The New Nation