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Manipur NGO seeks repeal of hydro projects MoU

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGEBAWxKKfyD4IPkZm7s-2LgJycd6CtydCpDakiMVpyYAB3e9hzqCosFJp3WYteIi-56cYjPiP7QipE_MnbQ_wdY6yXTpx-CZHR5dmi0-tKzjfnUn2-cquAxjiiJV0sv8vHwUxdJ9I9Hd/s1600/Hydro+Electric+Project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGEBAWxKKfyD4IPkZm7s-2LgJycd6CtydCpDakiMVpyYAB3e9hzqCosFJp3WYteIi-56cYjPiP7QipE_MnbQ_wdY6yXTpx-CZHR5dmi0-tKzjfnUn2-cquAxjiiJV0sv8vHwUxdJ9I9Hd/s200/Hydro+Electric+Project.jpg" /></a></div>Imphal, September 4, 2014: Expressing serious concern over the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) for taking up four Hydroelectric Power Projects in Manipur on August 28, the Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), a Manipur-based NGO, has demanded repeal of the MoU in the interest of the indigenous population. 
 
CCDD also demanded repeal of the Manipur Hydroelectric Policy, 2012, as it only aimed to further serve the corporate interest to maximise profits from the exploitation and destruction of land and resources. 
 
“The free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples as outlined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 and the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams in 2000 are fully complied too for all development and dam building plans in Manipur,” said CCDD co-chairperson Aram Pamei in a press release. “The Government should promote a comprehensive Energy Policy that encompasses the most feasible alternate energy solutions in Manipur.” 
 
The signing of the four power projects, namely the 60 MW Irang, 51 MW Tuivai, 67 MW Khongnem Chakha and 190 MW Pabram projects, as part of the larger dam building plans over rivers of Manipur under the Manipur Hydroelectric Power Policy, 2012, is another attempt of the Government to further destruct peoples livelihood and survival sources, alleged Aram Pamei. The plan to build these dams is fraught with absence of consultation and taking the free, prior and informed consent of communities to be affected by such mega dam projects. 
 
Expressing concern over the authority’s failure to assess and learn the multi-faceted adverse impacts of dams commissioned in Manipur, she said, the Ithai Barrage of Loktak Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project has already devastated the Loktak Wetlands ecosystem and destroyed the livelihood sources of fisherfolk and farmers of Manipur by submerging more than 80,000 acres of farmland. 
 
The ongoing Mapithel dam construction will destroy more than 1000 hectares of agriculture land and forest in Mapithel hill range, she added. The proposed 1500 MW Tipaimukh Dam will also submerge more than 27,000 hectares of forest land, while displacing several thousands of people, according to CCDD. 
 
The existing dams in Manipur are functioning in under- performing stage. The Khuga dam, which intends to generate 1.5 MW and to provide irrigation to 15,000 hectares of agricultural land in Churachandpur district, has long failed to generate a single unit of power, the release claimed. The 750 KW power generating unit of Singda Dam lies rusted, failing to generate a single unit of power since its commissioning. A serious question which emanates from an introspection of underperforming dams in Manipur is why indigenous peoples of Manipur should sacrifice their land, forest and other survival sources for such unsustainable projects, it questioned. 
 
Source: Assam Tribune

Manipur NGO seeks repeal of hydro projects MoU

Imphal, September 4, 2014: Expressing serious concern over the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the North Eastern Elect...

NEDF urges for public hearing

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gqkTyPjHkuPHkHuTQD3xnnfNTCBOzWpaZo3SYQXbX0bxwrUjVE_fg69wh13yYu5RkrvLstgoWD6y1a7Ty6Fk8Dye9f1sz_JNWhhXJ28i_V-5zOqvFkAfsxgV7oQsfjrGq6cG4Xieegia/s1600/Hydro+Electric+Project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gqkTyPjHkuPHkHuTQD3xnnfNTCBOzWpaZo3SYQXbX0bxwrUjVE_fg69wh13yYu5RkrvLstgoWD6y1a7Ty6Fk8Dye9f1sz_JNWhhXJ28i_V-5zOqvFkAfsxgV7oQsfjrGq6cG4Xieegia/s200/Hydro+Electric+Project.jpg" /></a></div>Imphal, September 2, 2014: The North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) has urged the State Government to conduct a public hearing under the Environmental Impact Assessment 2006 before Irang Hydro Project (60 MW), Tuivai Hydro Project (51 MW), Pabram Hydro Project (190 MW) and Khongnem Hydro Project (67MW) are implemented. 
 
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

NEDF urges for public hearing

Imphal, September 2, 2014: The North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) has urged the State Government to conduct a public hearing under the Environ...

CCDD condemns

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDE-rj1LuWp_v70Cb6YnT4hfUu3LRUbd3uyENimZguLhT7l1qhph_El2kFhYw1Lyj6eApT8f3pqZ4qVRTd-eIR-sjQGe9pLkjLZu62rEBBhD7zIik5N-5cqZerXQNAJIZhD1KvJLLn1hR/s1600/Hydel+Power+Project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDE-rj1LuWp_v70Cb6YnT4hfUu3LRUbd3uyENimZguLhT7l1qhph_El2kFhYw1Lyj6eApT8f3pqZ4qVRTd-eIR-sjQGe9pLkjLZu62rEBBhD7zIik5N-5cqZerXQNAJIZhD1KvJLLn1hR/s200/Hydel+Power+Project.jpg" /></a></div>Imphal, August 29, 2014: The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development expressed concern and condemned the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) for taking up four Hydroelectric Power Projects in Manipur on August 28, accroding to statement issued by the Co-Chairperson of CCDD. 
 
The signing of MoU for the four power projects, namely the 60 MW Irang HEP, 51 MW Tuivai HEP, the 67 MW Khongnem Chakha and 190 MW Pabram HEP projects in Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Senapati districts, as part of the larger dam building plans over rivers of Manipur under the Manipur Hydroelectric Power Policy, 2012 is another attempt of the Government to create further destruction of people’s livelihood and survival sources in Manipur, the statement said. 
 
It added that the plan to build these dams is a fraught with absence of consultation and prior consent of communities to be affected by such mega dam projects. The Ithai Barrage of Loktak Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project already devastated the Loktak Wetlands ecosystem and destroyed the livelihood sources of fisherfolk and farmers of Manipur by submerging more than 80,000 acres of farmland. The ongoing Mapithel dam construction will destroy more than 1000 hectares of agriculture land and forest in Mapithel hill range. The proposed 1500 MW Tipaimukh Dam will also submerge more than 27,000 hectares of forest land, while displacing several thousands of communities, the statement asserted. 
 
The Government’s exclusionary move and decision to promote mega dams all over Manipur without consulting the indigenous communities is a violation of indigenous peoples’ rights as outlined by UN Declaration on the Rights of indigenous peoples. The community have not been provided the necessary information on the proposed plans. 
 
The statement demanded that the MoU signed between Government of Manipur and NEEPCO for four mega dam projects in Manipur on August 28 should be repealed. with communities already resorting to widespread use of solar energy in Manipur, it is a high time that the promotion of alternative energy is seriously promoted by the Government of Manipur rather than promoting unsustainable mega dam projects. 
 
Source: The Sangai Express

CCDD condemns

Imphal, August 29, 2014: The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development expressed concern and condemned the Memorandum of Understanding signe...

NEEPCO to build 4 hydro projects in Manipur

Imphal, August 28, 2014: Manipur Government today signed a pre-implementation agreement with the North East Electric Power Corporation (NEEP...

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