Indian Tribals For Movement Against Tipaimukh Dam

By Ehsanul Haque Jasim

New Delhi, Apr 12 : The indigenous and tribal peoples of three states of India those are Assam, Manipur and Mizoram and particularly the people from different communities of Cachar, are taking preparation to form strong movement against the proposed Tipaimukh Hydro Electricity Project, located at the confluence of Barak and Tuivai rivers in Manipur.

If the Tipaimukh dam is constructed it would have adverse impact on the sensitive and vulnerable indigenous peoples as well as on their social, cultural, economic, political, demographic and environment prospect in the three States.

So the indigenous and tribal peoples of the areas are more vigorous against the dam. The vigorous indigenous and tribal communities are Hmar, Zeliangrong, Reang, Khasi, Manipuri, Rongmei, Naga Kuki, Jishnu, Nanu Ngai and Bengalis.

The people of Cachar under the banner of Committee of People and Environment (CPE) on last Wednesday staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar demanding scrapping of the Tipaimukh Dam Project.

Hundreds of demonstrators urged the government to make necessary steps to cancel the dam project saying that the dam will bring more miseries to the people of southern Assam, Manipur and Bangladesh.

They have already submitted memoranda to the Indian President, Prime Minister, Union minister for Forest and Environment and Chief Ministers of Assam and Manipur through the Cachar DC in support of their demands of stopping Tipaimukh Dam.

CPE general secretary Pijush Kanti Das on Thursday told the Mizoram Express, a media of India, that on several occasions we highlighted the possible disastrous implications of the Rs 9000 crore project on life, economy and environment of the region. So far southern Assam areas go, Barak and Kushiara rivers will dry up if the 163-meter high dam at Tipaimukh is built. The agriculture-based economy of the region will ruin besides destruction of flora and fauna, he added.

He said that if the dam is constructed, it will have negative impacts on 9,126 sq km area in Manipur also. A large number of indigenous communities, mostly belonging to the Zeliangrong and Hmar people, will be permanently displaced and deprived of their livelihood.

Other organizations of India are also protesting the construction of Tipaimukh Dam. Those are Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), Committee on Land and Natural Resources (COLNAR) and Action Against Tipaimukh Project. The organizations recently jointly observed International Day of Action for Rivers under the theme 'Reclaiming Barak River' at the confluence of Tuivai and Barak rivers at Tipaimukh.

The Hmar, Zeliangrong and Meitei community and different organizations from the Barak basin resolved to stand united against any initiative that would disturb the inseparable relationship between Barak river and indigenous people of the river basin.

Declaring that Barak river must be allowed to flow at its natural course, the participants also resolved to stand against any intervention that would disturb the natural flow of the river due to construction of Tipaimukh Dam.

It may be mentioned that the river is the only route that served import of relief materials during the famine of 1960. So the river still continues to serve Hmar villagers as a key trade route.

Hmar Students Association (HSA) which is very vocal against Tipaimukh Dam, is also opposing the construction the Tipaimukh Dam that Hmar people would be submerged under water if the dam is constructed.

The Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organisation (SIPHRO) is also one of the Indigenous People's organizations which is more vocal against the dam construction.

SIPHRO will organize public meetings, public hearings, discussions, debates, seminars, press conferences, and photo exhibitions in different villages, towns and districts in the three States on Tipaimukh Dam issue, says Imphal, an Indian media.