Manipur: Mapithel dam-affected villagers call for 48 hours strike

Imphal: The Mapithel Dam Affected Headmen, Chiefs and Elders Organisation (MDAHCEO) on Monday calls for a 48-hour-long total shutdown along Ukhrul to Imphal road via Mapithel Dam road with effect from the midnight of February 16 till the midnight of February 18.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club, MDAHCEO informed that they were forced to take such decision protesting against the state government for neglecting their long-pending demands of providing rehabilitation and resettlement.

On January 24 this year, the dam affected people submitted an ‘ultimatum’ to the authorities concerned demanding to materialise the memorandum of agreement signed between the state government and the organisation, however, till date submitted memorandum is yet to take any action, they said.

The organisation also appealed to all CSOs, NGOs and the public of the state to support the total shutdown.

Mapithel Dam, the Thoubal Multipurpose Project was first proposed in 1980 at an estimated cost of Rs 47.25 crore. However, as per the report, this ambitious power project began only in 1990.

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With irrigation potential of 33,400 hectares, the dam is supposed to produce 7.5 MW of power and supply around 45.46 million litres of water a day, most of which will be directed to Valley areas. But due to unwarranted delays, the project failed to see the light of the day till date.

The organisation also claimed that people affected by the dam project are highly suffering and their lifestyle has been completely changed due to landless and submerged agricultural land.

Further, they warned the authorities that families affected by Mapithel Dam construction are planning to take up illegal cultivation and collection of sandstone from the project site.

As per the report, a total of 23 villages, both upstream and downstream, have been affected by the project.

Moreover, the members of the organisation have decided to intensify their stir if the authorities concerned fail to fulfill their demands after the proposed strike.