SIPHRO Against Tipaimukh Dam

By Ehsanul Haque Jasim

The Tipaimukh Dam issue is being strongly raised again both in Bangladesh and India as some Indian ethnic minorities are going to protest the dam construction while the main Opposition BNP in Bangladesh is preparing to launch a massive movement.

An Indian ethnic minority group believes that the area of Tipaimukh is a 'holy land' for them. So they are much vocal against the construction of the Dam to save their area from ruining.
The Dam will bring adverse impacts on some states of India, including Manipur, Assam and Mizoram, and north-eastern region of Bangladesh turning it into a desert.

Most of the Indian ethnic minorities are living in those states. So they will experience adverse impact when the construction of the Dam is completed.

According to the belief of Hmar tribals, the entire area of the proposed Tipaimukh Dam is a 'holy land'. So the community is going to launch a strong movement demanding stoppage of construction of the Dam to save it from sacrilege and desertification.

Newspapers of Indian state of Mizoram reports has said the people of ethnic minorities will hold a protest rally against the Dam on September 28 under the banners of The Sinlung Peoples Human Rights Organisation (SPHRO) and Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organisation (SIPHRO).

The report further said, "Calling upon all concerned to take part in the event, the joint statement issued by the two organizations has said that the entire area of the Tipaimukh Dam is a 'holy land' for the Hmar tribals, adding that this is time for the community to wake up as one.

"It is here our forefathers had lived and today governments, corporations and different companies in the name of development are trying to exploit and push us out," the statement added.

The people of the community believe that the area where the dam is proposed to be built is God's given land to the Hmar tribe since time immemorial.

The state governments of Manipur and Mizoram had signed MoUs with several hydro-power companies to build the multiple Dam on Barak River at the upper reaches of the rivers Surma and Kushiyara.

Another report of Mizoram Express said, a National Seminar titled 'Dialogue on Dams and Development: The Case of Tipaimukh Hydro-electric Multi-Purpose Project' would be held from
December 13 to 15 this year at Churachandpur and from 16 to 18 at Tipaimukh in Manipur.
North Eastern Council will organize the seminar where experts from diverse fields, social workers, environmentalists, journalists, politicians and cultural organisations have already confirmed their participation in the seminar.

Meanwhile, the main Opposition of Bangladesh BNP is taking preparation to launch a massive movement against the Tipaimukh Dam.

The party's recent Standing Committee meeting has taken decision of a month-long programme in the upazila level across the country, which will begin on October 1. A party source has said that the importance will be given on Tipaimukh Dam issue in the programme of the upazilas of Sylhet division.

The party is thinking to launch a long march towards Sylhet through reorganising the party in the month and easing internal quarrel of the party in Sylhet division, a BNP leader has said.
The Standing Committee meeting discussed the Tipaimukh Dam issue and it opined that the issue had to be raised in the interest of the country.