New Delhi: The beautification drives of Khuga Dam in order to possibly make it ready for inauguration by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 26 has propelled the Joint Action Committee to fly to New Delhi recently to meet political leaders.
The Committee said it will prevent the inauguration of Khuga dam till its demands are fully completed and thereby satisfy the people of Churachandpur district in Manipur.
The three-member Joint Action Committee on Khuga Dam Project arrived in New Delhi on October 5. The team includes Rampana, Chairman (JAC), Lalpu Hangshing, Secretary (JAC), and Seipao Misao, Secretary (Kuki Inpi Churachandpur).
A Consultation Meeting on Khuga Dam was held at Mizoram House in Vasant Vihar on Tuesday. The Committee had a deliberate discussion with various social organisations, civil societies, student bodies, NGOs, etc. The three-member team is likely to discuss the matter with the General Secretary of All India Congress Committee Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday. The Committee was form on July 23, 2010.
The Khuga Dam Multipurpose Project is located at Mata village, about 10km away from Lamka town in Churachandpur. The construction of Khuga dam began in 1983 with initial sanctioned of Rs. 1.64 crores from the Planning Commission ofIndia. The State Government has already spent Rs. 350 crores in the project.
The proposed dam is expected to provide 1.5 Mega Watt of Hydro electric power, Water supply components of 50,00,000 gallons and Irrigation canal system covering 9575 hectares of CCA to create 15000 hec of annual irrigation potential in Churachandpur and Bishnupurdistrict.
Seipao Misao, Secretary of Kuki Innpi Churachandpur said, “Once the dam is inaugurated, the fate of our land is beyond imagination. The dam has been built with sub-standard materials and the constructions are mismanaged. Some of the portions developed cracks. So the dam won’t last many years. It will burst one day”.
According to Misao, there are numerous villages which could be devastated by the Khuga dam in future. “The dam has two main canals – Right Canal (Eastern side) and Left Canal (Western side). The Eastern Canal passes through Saipum, M. Simol, Vengnomphai, Misao Lhahvom, Mualsan, Mualpi, Mualkot, Sumtuhphai, Daijang, Ngurte, Tuikham, Thenmol, Tuibul, and Mualbem village while the Western Canal passes through Mata, Lhingshiphai, Nakhopai, Tualnuam, and Thingkangphai village. These villages are the dangerous areas. Besides, there are many villages which could be easily washed off by the waters of Khuga dam,” he added.
In 2005 December 14, the affected villagers protested against the government in which three protesters were shot dead and more than 25 injured during the indiscriminate firings of the police.
“Though Khuga dam is expected to generate 1.5 MW, but the Power House is now submerged by the water. The irrigation canal which is expected to irrigate 68 km of water only gives less than a kilometer now. Where is the truth propagated by the government?” said Rampana, Chairman, Joint Action Committee on Khuga Dam Project.
The Public Health & Engineering Department has constructed water reservoirs in Rengkai, New Lamka, Salem Veng and Thingkangphai. However reports say that not even a single drop of water is available in these reservoirs.
Manipur government has promised to provide compensation, re-settlement and re-habilitation to the affected areas, but none of these has been materialized so far. As re-habilitation policy, the government paid Rs. 3,000 per family instead of Rs. 30,000.
The Khuga Dam Local Contractor’s Association has also demanded the State Government to release the pending bill of Rs. 16.02 crores.
JAC on Khuga Dam Project Secretary Lalpu Hangshing said, “We cannot visit the site of Khuga dam and we are not allowed by the security personnel. Our fundamental rights are under the hands of the government”.
Expressing the negligence of the politicians, Rampana said: “We made several complaints and requests to the politicians, ministers and MLAs but all in vain. Some of them shot back us with ‘Silent is Golden’. We no longer trust the state so we came to Delhi”.
On Tuesday, leaders from All Tribal Students Union Manipur, Kuki Students Organisation, Zomi Students Federation, Hmar Students Association, Siamsinpawlpi (Paite Students Welfare Association), Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organisation, Zomi Human Rights Foundation, Delhi Hmar Welfare Association, Campaign for Peace & Democracy in Manipur and distinguished persons had expressed their supports for the cause of the affected people in Churachandpur.
The Sinlung Indigenous People Human Rights has recently protested against the proposed Tipaimukh dam on the river Barak in Manipur.
Khuga dam has displaced thousands of people who are now driven by poverty, hunger and homeless. The word ‘Dam’ has now became a nightmare for the tribals in Manipur.
Via: Mizoram Express
