IMPHAL, Aug 31 � Resisting the construction of Chakpikarong Multipurpose Project Dam in Chandel district of Manipur, aggrieved villagers under the aegis of Anal Naga Tangpi (ANTA) today said that the proposed mega project does not comply with World Commission of Dams (WCD) and therefore violates the Environment Protection Acts besides causing grievous threat to life and natural equilibrium.
Meanwhile, twelve chiefs of the affected area who had entered into an understanding with the government have withdrawn their signatures.
�More than thirty two upstream and over 100 downstream villages will be affected if the proposed Chakpikarong multipurpose project dam comes to fruition�, said All Naga Tangpi (ANTA) president Wng. Kohring Victor at a one-day consultative meeting of Anal community at Ruwngchang Chakpikarong in Chandel district today, and added that it will not allow construction of the dam.
The Anal people are not anti-development but against any socio-economic, cultural and racial threat posed by the negative impacts of the dam under the initiative of Manipur Government with assistance from the Central Government, he added.
He said that the dimension of the dam is 78 m high and 510 m long with an estimated submergence area of over 3,568.78 hectares. The dam is likely to displace several villages from the proposed site (Lijong) in the south and several agricultural jhum and wet, arable land towards the east, west and north and severely affect socio-economy of our indigenous people with the loss of rich biodiversity, land, people and natural resources, he said.
According to Victor, the site is a seismic prone zone and does not conform to the recommendation of WCD. �Non compliance of World Commission of Dams (WCD) prescriptions will violate the environment protection acts and this will invite world equilibrium disturbances�, he said.
ANTA has therefore urged the State and the Central Government to cancel the project failing which the tribal body will be forced to resort to democratic means of agitations in order to protect and safeguard their land and resources.
In the meanwhile, the twelve village chiefs who had earlier signed an understanding with the government that allowed for the construction of the proposed multi-crore project today withdrew their signature and apologised to the Anal community through a customary ritualistic sacrifice.
HL Thungam, president of Chakpikarong Chiefs� Association said that the twelve chiefs have been forgiven.
