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Manipur : Anti-dam protests, PM postpones his visit |
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The Chief Minister’s throne in Manipur is just not a bed of roses. In fact, it is a bed of thorns, especially for Chief Minister Ibobi Singh who is heading the Congress government in the state.
After people’s movement against alleged atrocities by Assam Rifles and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, the Manipuris are up in arms against the proposed construction of a dam at Tipaikmukh, in Churachandpur district.
The project is a joint venture of Manipur, Assam and Mizoram, but it is believed that Cachar in south Assam will benefit the most.
The problem of flooding by the Barak in Cachar may be mitigated to a certain extent, but that too is being debated.The anti-dam lobby’s main concern is that a large tract of farmland and a vast stretch of forest in Tamenglong will be submerged if the dam comes up.
Suspected anti-dam activists set a government building ablaze in Tamenglong on Nov. 22 even as the second public hearing on the feasibility of the Tipaimukh project was in progress a stone’s throw away.
The Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Project and several other NGOs, including the United Naga Council and the Zeliangrong Students Union, are opposing the project. A conglomerate of 25 NGOs, the action committee has sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister, urging him to scrap the project.
On the other hand, the Ibobi Singh government launched a publicity blitzkrieg to mobilise support for the project. Advertisements have been published in Imphal dailies, urging people to back the project and explaining how it will benefit them in the long run.
The advertisements claim that the proposed dam will affect only eight villages directly and 77 indirectly.
On job opportunities, the advertisements say that 75 per cent of the sanctioned posts of junior engineers and below will be reserved for youth of Manipur. Another promise is employment to about 4,000 unskilled workers.
A few days ago, Union minister of state for heavy industries Sontosh Mohan Dev had said that the Tipaimukh project was on course and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to lay the foundation stone would be finalised after the second public hearing.
However, it has now been announced that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Manipur to lay the foundation stone of the Tipaimukh dam has been postponed.
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