It may be mentioned that the State Government had recently signed a pre-implementation agreement regarding the four hydro power projects with NEEPCO.
In a press statement, NEDF said that the authorities, in order to maintain transparency and accountability, should also make the detail project report public.
Further, NEDF urged the authorities concerned to carry out upstream and downstream impact studies of each project by inviting independent expert panels.
Reminding bitter experiences of Loktak Multipurpose Project, NEDF said that NHPC implemented the project based on an unsystematic (not field oriented) project investigation report.
At the initial stage of the implementation of the project, the authority allegedly bluffed the people of Manipur by giving false promises like the project would reclaim 60,000 hectares of land and would be distributed to the landless people, another 40,000 hectares of land would be lift irrigated for double and triple cropping, etc, the press statement said.
It added that the people of Manipur were so happy with all these expected facilities and day-dreaming for the growth of pollution free small/medium scale industries with the power available from the Loktak.
However, on the contrary, after commissioning of the project, a huge area of cultivable land remained inundated for all the time.
People of Manipur definitely need power, however, while developing hydropower projects, both the Government and implementing agencies should consider aspects of environment, socio-culture, displacement and sustainable livelihood of the indigenous people etc.
Source: The Sangai Express
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