IMPHAL, APRIL 5: A joint one day workshop was organised by the Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organisation (MDAVO), The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development and the Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur on Mapithel dam and its impacts at Riha village in Ukhrul District today.
Resource persons Thanmi Kashung, advisor of MDAVO, Phulindro Konsam, chairman, Committee on Human Rights, Jiten Yumnam, Jt. Secretary, Citizens Concern for Dams and Development and Sanaton, president of Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur and around 80 participants from nearby villages participated in the workshop, informed a MDAVO press release.
In his presentation Thanmi Kashung stressed over the loss of agricultural land and forests, said the release.
Phulindro Konsam spoke on the violation of indigenous people due to the forcible nature of construction of the Mapithel Dam, while Jiten Yumnam spoke on how the Mapithel Dam construction constitutes a violation of Indian environmental laws and other International Human Rights and indigenous peoples` development standards, it said.
The workshop was organised to stop construction of dam till consent of all affected communities and the mandatory livelihood, health, economic impacts, environment and forest clearance are taken up, it continued.
The workshop further adopted that the Expert Review Committee to work out a comprehensive Rehabilitation and Resettlement program for affected people and the recommendation of the World Commission of Dams and the provisions of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to comply in the review of Mapithel dam, etc. the release said.