At a review of the proposed Tipaimukh dam construction over the Barark River in Manipur held at Manipur Press Club on 11 February 2012, community organizations have resolved against the 1500 MW Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project calling for an urgent revocation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Govt of Manipur, the National Hydroelectric Project Corporation and teh Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited in October 2010 and also the environemtnal Clearance granted by the Ministry of Environemtn and Forest of the Government of India on 24 October 2008.
RESOLUTION OF ONE DAY REVIEW MEETING ON TIPAIMUKH DAM ON 11 FEBRUARY 2012, PRESS CLUB, IMPHAL MANIPUR, ORGANIZED BY CCDD, COLNER, ACTIP, NEDF, SIPHRO
We, the participants of the one day review meet on Tipaimukh Dam, held at Manipur Press Club on 11 February 2012, organized by Committee on Land and Natural Resources, Citizens’ Concern for Dams and Development, Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Dam, North East Dialogue Forum and the Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organizations:
Affirms that our rivers, forest, wetlands and land are the source of our life and not for plunder, invasion and we will strive to defend and protect the integrity of our land for survival of our coming generations.
Express our concern that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Government of Manipur, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) on 28 April 2010, reaffirmed on 22 October 2011 without the consent of the indigenous peoples of Manipur and all those who will be affected by Tipaimukh dam project in Mizoram, Assam and further down in Bangladesh.
Express our concern that NHPC and SJVNL is to be involved in Tipaimukh Dam, both of which has extremely poor environmental, social, accountability and human rights records from its previous projects such Teesta V (Sikkim), and Subansiri HEP (Arunachal Pradesh) and the Loktak Project (Manipur). In Particular, the NHPC remains unaccountable for destroying Loktak wetlands ecosystems and absence of rehabilitation and resettlement of communities affected by its Loktak Project in Manipur.
Also expresses our concern that the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) of the Government of India granted Environmental Clearance for Tipaimukh Dam construction on 24 October 2008 despite stern opposition of affected communities to the project as expressed during the public hearings held from the year 2004 at Darlawn, Mizoram till the last public hearing at Tipaimukh Dam site, Churachandpur District, Manipur on 31 March 2008 on account of non recognition of indigenous peoples rights to their ancestral domain and resources and absence of holistic impact assessment.
Express our apprehension that 25,822.22 hectares of forest land of Manipur will be affected by the Tipaimukh dam which will lead to felling of 7.8 million trees and bamboos and such action will not only seriously impact community livelihood and survival and exacerbate species loss but also induce climate change impacts due to destruction of absorption capacity of Green House Gases (GHG) and also due to GHG emission by the reservoir of the proposed Dam.
Express our appreciation to the UN Committee on the Elimination on all forms of Racial Discrimination for its letter to the Government of India on 2 September 2011 from its Chairperson, outlining Specific recommendations to the Government of India to respect the Right to Free Prior and Informed Consent of Indigenous Peoples before construction of Tipaimukh Dam
Noted with concern that this important right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent as outlined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has not been recognized and violated both in the process of Trilateral MoU for Tipaimukh Dam construction and also in the process of granting Environmental Clearance by MoEF.
While appreciating the constitution of a Forest Sub Committee to assess of the project on the Forests, ecology of Manipur by the MoEF, we reiterate that the Tipaimukh Dam project will have an irreparable impact on the forest of Manipur, which will directly affect the livelihood of indigenous communities depending on the forest and the submergence of the forest will also significantly destroy the habitat of endangered floral and faunal species of Manipur.
Further express our concern that the military units operating under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 and deployed to counter insurgents in Manipur are openly supporting Tipaimukh Dam and that militarization pursued for development will aggravate the human rights violations in Manipur.
Reiterating that Tipaimukh dam will be built over high seismic zone, which is prone to Earthquakes and in addition will also seriously impact the Keilam Wildlife Sanctuary and the Bunning Bird Sanctuary.
Also reiterates that the Tipaimukh dam will destroy the rich and unique cultural and natural heritage of the affected peoples of Manipur such as Zeilat Lake, Barak Waterfalls and other sacred sites etc and that Barak River has been an important economic lifeline for the Hmar people in Tipaimukh area.
Reminding of the numerous submission and appeal from the affected peoples and support groups to the government of Manipur and Government of India to rescind the Tipaimukh Dam project
We, therefore, call upon the Government of India and the Government of Manipur for:
- - Urgent revocation of the MoU between Government of Manipur, National Hydroelectric Project and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited, signed on 28 April 2010, reaffirmed on 22 October 2011
- - Revocation of the Environment Clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India on 24 October 2008
- - Take the free prior and informed consent of all affected peoples as recommended by the UN CERD Committee specific on Tipaimukh dam
- - Fully adhere to the recommendations of the World Commission of dams and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples before pursuing for Tipaimukh Dam
- - Conduct Holistic Impact Assessment, such as on the socio, economic, environmental, cultural, health and human rights impacts due to the proposed Tipaimukh Dam in all portion of the river in Manipur, Mizoram, Assam and in Bangladesh with due participation of all affected peoples
- - The Forest Advisory Sub Committee of MoEF be aware that nothing can compensate the loss of 7.8 million trees and bamboos and 25,822 hectares of community forest land and as such, the Sub Committee should meet all affected peoples and consult local experts and to make recommendations that respects the aspiration of the people for their survival, rights and future.
- - No Militarization in the pretext of development & repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958
- - Call upon the concerned authority to seek for an alternative source of energy other than mega dams in Manipur and to unitedly strive together for full implementation of the resolution
Source: Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
