1) MDAVO denounces Ministry's approval
http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/tseitm-34526-mdavo-denounces-ministrys-approval/
http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/tseitm-34526-mdavo-denounces-ministrys-approval/
IMPHAL,
Jan 11, 2014 : Following the CCDD way, the Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers
Organisation (MDAVO) while denouncing the Ministry of Environment and Forest
(MoEF), Government of India's approval for the final Stage II Forest Clearance
for Mapithel Dam construction in Manipur under fraudulent conditions on Dec 31,
2013, demanded the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to revoke its
letter to the Government of Manipur conceding final stage II Forest Clearance
for Mapithel Dam to ensure social and economic justice in the land.
The MoEF
should insist on its recommendations to the Government of Manipur to apply the
Forest Rights Act, 2006 and to take the consent of the traditional institutions
of the affected communities and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs should rather
promote the interest and rights of tribal peoples affected by Mapithel Dam in
Manipur and should recommend the full compliance of the Forest Rights Act, 2006
in the case of Mapithel Dam, a statement issued by the chairman of MDAVO, R Sakathan
demanded.
It further urged the Manipur Government to stop
construction of Mapithel Dam till the consent of all affected communities are
taken with.
The matter of forest diversion of 595 hac does not
come to the knowledge of the affected land owners till today. The compensatory
Afforestation planned over twice the area to be submerged is also not informed
to the affected communities. MDAVO is left at a lurch as to how the forest
diversion and compensation afforestation etc will take place without informing
and taking consent of the communities affected by Mapithel dam.
Registering strong objection to the grant of forest
clearance without proper Impact assessment on environment, ecology, social,
economic, cultural, health perspective of the project by the implementing
authority /agency, the statement said that the de-recognition of tribal Forest
dwellers rights on forest, based on the FRA 2006 is a straight violation. As
such, it strongly condemned MoEF and demanded revocation of the Forest
Clearance grant to the State Govt.
MDAVO also considered the act of the Ministry of
Tribal Affairs (MoTA) conceding extraordinary ‘exceptions’ to the application
of “Forest Rights Act, 2006” in the case of Mapithel Dam construction and
exempting the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Government of Manipur
not to implement Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA, 2006) for the project as a clear
disrespect and an act of discrimination against the tribal people who will lose
their land.
Endorsing the Manipur Government’s reference to the
1993 agreement for Rehabilitation as semblance of ‘consent’ under FRA, 2006 by
the MoEF and MoTA is unacceptable as the agreement is marred with serious and
continuing violations, it said that the payment of land compensation to be done
in 1994-1995 according to the agreement is not fulfilled till today. The same
matter is under review in the Expert Review Committee process formed in January
2008.
The insistence on 1993 agreement as receiving
‘consent’ taken from the village Chiefs to claim exemption from Forest Rights
Act, 2006 by the Manipur Government is not acceptable as the same was confirmed
to be defective and immature by the state itself in 2003 and further the
Village Authorities in the affected area are not authorised to sell their tribal
forest land, even under the 1993 agreement. No forest land is acquired under
the 1993 agreement as it was just a condition or terms for the deed.
Beside, the villagers under Catchment Area for the
Mapithel Dam Multipurpose project, strongly objected the planned acquisition of
565 sq km of their forest land without their consultation and consent. The
affected villagers also maintained that any occupation of their forest land not
through the FRA, 2006, is a straight challenge to their traditional forest rights.
MDAVO also questioned the MoEF as to how it cleared
Forest Clearance without any applicable Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for
Mapithel Dam and how the MoEF and MoTA refers to 1993 as compliance of rules.
2) Activists welcomes
rejection of Tipaimukh dam by FAC
Aug 9, 2013: The anti-dam activists in the North
Eastern states have welcomed the rejection of the Tipaimukh dam by the Forest
Advisory Committee. However the Union government feels that this could be
overcome. In fact India has been in consultation with Bangladesh on the issue
of the construction of the dam which will generate 1500 MW out of which Manipur
will get 15 per cent free of charge as the host state. The mega dam is set to
be constructed at the junction of Mizoram, Assam and Manipur.
All these years Manipur and Mizoram have been
objecting to it. However the recurring flood in the Barak valley in Assam shall
be controlled and vast areas could be brought under agriculture and
horticulture. A consultative meeting on the proposed Tipaimukh hydroelectric
power project was held at Manipur Press club on Thursday. Organised by the
Union NGO Mission Manipur the speakers pleaded not to construct the dam since
Manipur stands to lose in many ways. 27,777.50 hectares of forest will be
subjected to diversion. At least 13 tribal villages will be submerged in the
dam waters. Some portions of highway 37 will be destroyed. Besides there will
be irreparable loss in flora and fauna.
At the end of the meeting ten resolutions were
taken. It said, among others, that the recommendation of the World Commission
on dams, the UN declarations on the rights of the indigenous peoples should be
implemented. Now that the Forest Advisory Committee has rejected the Tipaimukh
dam it also called for the revocation of the environment clearance of the mega
project given on October 24, 2008.
Meanwhile NGOs and some high officials in
Meghalaya are not happy with the statement of Jyotiraditya M. Scindia that 1279
sites have been identified in the NE region for setting up mini hydel projects.
97 of the sites are said to be located in Meghalaya. Ranking officials say that
they are not aware of these sites. Some NGOs say that since these sites are
believed to be located in private land the owners will not readily cooperate.
They said that if the mini hydel projects come up Meghalaya will be submerged.
The speakers in the consultative meeting in
Imphal said that since the dam will doom the fate of the posterity and today's
generation should do everything to oppose the proposed dam. The Manipur
Assembly had also adopted a resolution to oppose the dam since Manipur stands
to lose in many ways. However within a few years the Manipur government was
prevailed upon to extend cooperation.
3)
Protection
of human rights defenders
HNS/Imphal, Oct 17, 2013
: Committee on Protection of Natural Resource in Manipur, North East Dialogue Forum,
All Tribal Students Union Manipur, All Zeliangrong Students Union, Citizens
Concern for Dams and Development, Human Rights Initiative, Naga Women's Union,
Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur'and Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human
Rights Organization would jointly organised a "Convention on Protection of
Human Rights Defenders of Manipur" at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul,
Imphal on 19th October 2013 at 10:30 A.M.
The
Convention has been planned in the backdrop of increasing targeting of human
rights defenders and their organizations in Manipur by security forces
operating under emergency laws in Manipur. The convention will also discuss the
patterns of targeting human rights defenders and adopt specific resolution and
strategies to promote the human rights and protection of human rights defenders
of Manipur.
Chandam
Brajachand, MJS, Grade I will grace the Convention as Chief Guest. Yambem Laba,
Former member of Manipur Human Rights Commission and Wangkhemcha
Shyamjai, President of All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU),
Kangjam Maharabi, Member of Manipur Commission on Protection of Child Rights
will grace the Convention as Guest of Honors. Rakesh Meihoubam, Director
of Human Rights Law Network, Babloo Loitongbam, Executive Director of Human
Rights Alert, Dr. Debabrata Roy Laifungbam, President of Elders Council, Centre
for Organization Research and Education, Ms. Aram Pamei, Ex- President of Naga
Women Union, Jiten Yumnam, Secretary of Centre for Research and Advocacy,
Manipur, Nobokishore, Secretary of North East Dialogue Forum, Traite of Sinlung
Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organization, Dr. RK Ranjan, Chairperson of
Citizens Concern for Dams and Development, Majabung Gangmei, Spokesperson of
ATSUM, Phulindro Konsam, Chairperson of Committee on Human Rights, Pradip
Keisam of Manipur Alliance for Child Rights will present sharings on protection
of human rights defenders in Manipur.
The
scheduled Manipur State Level Convention on Protection of Human Rights
Defenders in Manipur is being organized in the context of increasing targetting
of human rights defenders and their organizations in Manipur by security forces
operating under emergency laws in Manipur. The convention will also discuss the
patterns of targetting human rights defenders and adopt specific resolution and
strategies to promote the human rights and protection of human rights defenders
of Manipur. I would like to thank you for your timely presence.
4) Locals object land demarcation
IMPHAL,
Dec 20, 2013 : Locals of Takyel Khongbal Mayai Leikai today objected
demarcation of land at Takyelpat for the construction of Government office buildings.
Following an order issued by Imphal West DC, a team of Government officials led
by SDC concerned tried to demarcate land at the area this morning. However,
local club executives, meira paibees and villagers objected the move of the
Government.
The locals submitted an application to DC Imphal
West through the SDC requesting him to postpone demarcation of land for 15
days. Later, the locals conducted a public meeting at TUPO ground and resolved
that even an inch of land would not be given to the Government. The meeting
also decided to form a pressure group christened Takyelpat Land Protection
Committee to spearhead movements against Government’s move.
Convenor of the newly formed body, Sapam Rajbapu
said that villagers of Takyel Khongbal would stand against land acquisition at
Takyelpat till death. He also warned that the State Government must be held
responsibility of any untoward incident arising out of their indifferent
attitude towards the common voice of the people of the area. The Government has
already acquired around 40 paris of agricultural land for the construction of
Sports Authority of India (SAI) complex and around 25 paris of land for
Government offices like State Academy of Training, Manipur Science Museum,
MANIREDA and IBSD etc, he said. As such, people of the area would not allow to
take away the remaining 15 paris of land, where many people are residing,
Rajbapu said. Mentioning that the State Government had also tried to acquire
land in 1974 and 1987, Rajbapu said that the plan was abandoned due to intense
resistance from the people of the area. He also said that a youth died in
police firing following a flare-up erupted between police and agitating
villagers in 1974. Rajbapu urged the Government to act according to the wish of
the general public.
5) RK Ranjan flays ring
road plan
Imphal,
December 22, 2013:
Taking serious note of the notification issued on November 8 this year for
acquisition of land for construction of a ring road from Sendra to Ishok around
Loktak Lake, Dr RK Ranjan has questioned whether the State Government has
studied the Land Acquisition Amendment Act passed by the Parliament last year.
In
protest against the Government plan to acquire land for the ring road, people
of 19 villages held a meeting at Khoijuman Langol Ningthou community hall
today. A large number of farmers and fishermen who would be affected by the
land acquisition move attended the meeting. Speaking at the meeting,
environmentalist Dr RK Ranjan said that according to the Land Acquisition
Amendment Act, the Government should first obtain consent of the people if it
should acquire land for any project. The Government has no authority to
bulldoze its way.
Villagers
need to find out whether the land acquisition notification was issued by the
State Government after studying the Land Acquisition Amendment Act. If it
happens that the Government issued the notification without studying the
amended Act, people should register their objection with the authorities
concerned. Construction of ring road around Loktak Lake may help in maintaining
a healthy water level for power generation but it would destroy a large number
of fish farms which are the only source of livelihood for poor fishing
families, Ranjan said. Almost all the 19 villagers which would be left outside
the ring road and large areas of paddy fields and fish farmers would be
submerged under water. It is also crucial to find out whether the Loktak
Protection Act and the proposed ring road have any link.
If
the people are against the proposed ring road which is being planned in the
interest of big corporate bodies, it is the right time to raise a strong voice
of objection, he asserted.
BJP
State unit president Th Chaoba said that the State Government is still unable
to pay full compensation to the people affected by Loktak Project. After
several huts belonging to fishing families have been set ablaze, the Government
is again planning to take over more land. The Government's move is an open
invitation for strong mass movement. Human right activist W Joykumar opined
that the local MLAs consent would be surely taken even if people were not given
prior information. The Government ought to inform the people about the project
and take their consent in compliance with general procedures.
6) Ring road around Loktak proposed
BISHNUPUR, Dec 22, 2013 : The Fish Farmers’
Society has today organised a public meeting at Khoijuman Yangoi Ningthou
Community hall regarding the construction of a ring road around Loktak Lake
from Ishok to Sendra.
During the meeting, Thounaojam Chaoba, ex union
minister and president BJP Manipur Pradesh, N Ibopishak, pradhan of the
Khoijuman Kwasiphai GP and CRA secretary Jiten Yumnam, environmentalist Dr RK Ranjan
Singh, Human Rights Initiative director W Joykumar, senior wrestling coach W
Chaobalal attended the public meeting as chief guest, president and guests of
honour respectively.
The meeting was participated by the land holding
dwellers from Ishok to Sendra who will be evacuated due to the construction of
the ring road. The meeting further discussed the grievances that will be faced
by the people dwelling around the lake.
Five resolutions including that the ring road be
constructed considering the grievances of the people, and enough compensation
was provided to the affected families, the formation of a farmers’ body and
submission of a memorandum to the concerned authorities to review the
construction of the ring road were passed during the meeting.
6) Power dept corporatisation finds Cabinet approval, process from Feb
http://kanglaonline.com/2013/12/power-dept-corporatisation-finds-cabinet-approval-process-from-feb/
IMPHAL, December 26, 2013 : The state Cabinet
today has granted approval in principle to the proposal for corporatisation of
the electricity department. The process is expected to begin from the month of
February, next year. Government spokesperson and education minister M
Okendro stated that the agreement for transforming the government department
into a corporate was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by the chief minister
O Ibobi at the CM secretariat this morning. He continued that the meeting
also reviewed the previous decision of the Cabinet to cancel the involvement of
transport contractors of food grains during the distribution of essential items
under the Targeted Public Distribution System in four valley districts. The
matter was discussed minutely before the decision was taken, he stated.
The
earlier decision had entrusted the district administration to carry out the
work for ferrying the items under the TPDS, replacing the transport
contractors. However, the delegation of the responsibility to the district
administration had intensified their workload and created extra burden,
necessitating a re-think, the minister said. Okendro further
informed that the meeting discussed the plans for introduction of National Food
Security Act in Manipur from March, next year. In this regard, the Cabinet took
a decision to notify the DCs and ADCs to complete the identification of
priority households before January 15, 2014. The last date for receipt of forms
had been fixed on January 10, 2014. The DCs and ADCs will be advised to carry
out comprehensive publicity campaign for maximum circulation of the forms, he
added.
The
minister added that in order to achieve glorious success in the implementation
of the Act, the Cabinet agreed to set up the required number of fair price
shops in the Assembly constituencies and the construction of the additional
shops will be funded by the Local Area Development Fund of the respective MLA.
The Cabinet further gave its approval to the prorogation of the sixth session
of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly, said the minister. Today’s Cabinet
also approved the establishment of the State Society for Management of
Institute of Hotel Management, the minister added.
8) Oil drilling: ATSUM- Govt ready for showdown
http://www.hueiyenlanpao.com/headlines/item/16147-oil-drilling-atsum-govt-ready-for-showdown
8) Oil drilling: ATSUM- Govt ready for showdown
http://www.hueiyenlanpao.com/headlines/item/16147-oil-drilling-atsum-govt-ready-for-showdown
HNS/Imphal, Jan 10, 2014: Voicing strongly
against exploitation of natural resources in hill areas of the State, All
Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has been pressuring the authorities
concerned to revoke the licenses of the companies engaged in oil drilling works
at some hill areas in the State.
The
oil drilling works are likely to be disrupted in the near future due to
mounting pressure from the ATSUM. However, the State Government is committed to
thwart any obstruction to the oil drilling. Moreover, the Government is
planning to organize mass awareness programmes on exploration of natural
resources and its benefits to the people.
The
awareness programme would be organized to sensitize the people on various
aspects of oil drilling and make them aware of the agreement signed between the
State Government and the companies, assurance for not causing harm to the
environment in the process of oil drilling, benefits from exploration of
petroleum and natural gases in other states, and prevention of disasters with relevant
case studies.
The
Chief Secretary would also discuss organizing field trips to oil drilling
sites in Assam and Tripura along with the representatives of ATSUM and other
social organizations.
The
oil drilling began in the State after the contract was awarded to a company by
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gases, and later a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) was signed between the State Government and the company.
The Jubilant House Private Limited is undertaking the oil drilling works
at two places in Churachandpur and Tamenglong districts.
Even
though there is much likelihood of the presence of petroleum products in the
State, there is no guarantee that petroleum products would be found in the
speculated areas alone. Even in case the petroleum is found, the company
exploring the petroleum products would experience loss if the amount turns out
to be little.
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