This must be one of those relapses into complete chaos Manipur periodically goes through. The Inner Line Permit System, ILPS, issue which had been simmering all along, suddenly came to a boil with the unfortunate death of a school boy Sapam Robinhood, 16, and by all accounts has reached a point of no return. The government will have to do something to assuage the fears of the larger public that a demographic overturn because of incessant influx of settlers would see the indigenous populations end up marginalised in their own land. Failing this it is unlikely the present crippling agitation will fade out and the state may end up injuring itself materially and economically beyond easy repairs. The government will have to exercise its imagination to come up with a remedial law which brings justice without unduly hurting or victimising anybody in particular. But even while this onerous issue remains unresolved, other demons are raising their heads. Needless to add these demons are the creations of the culture of corruption rampant in the state today. The collapse of the brand new Sekmai dam is the most recent. What explanations do the government and its engineering wing handling the construction work have for this? The government owes an answer to the public with whose money this dam was built in the first place.
This is not all. Although the government in the last Assembly session, explained to some extent its position the Mapithel Dam which is now submerging Chadong village in the Ukhrul district, it would still be fit to the purpose to come out with a comprehensive white paper on the matter? It definitely would benefit the people to be told what was the nature and size of the rehabilitation package given to the affected villagers; When was the idea of the dam conceived?; When was its construction commissioned?; Who was the contractor?; What was the total cost of the construction and equally importantly how much money was earmarked for rehabilitation?; Were there free, prior and informed consent taken from those who would be displaced?; Were social and environmental impact assessments made, and if yes, who made these assessments and what was their final report like?; Who sanctioned the construction of the new school building at Chadong which is now more or less underwater, and which contractor was given the task? Obviously the school was built even as the dam was being constructed so how did the government not know the ground on which the school stood was below the dam height therefore would come underwater once the dam floodgates were shut?; It would be ridiculous for the government to think making these information public would compromise the state`™s or the nation`™s security. On the other hand, withholding them would arouse suspicion, especially in these troubled times that the government has something to hide. Let the government be reminded, policy transparency, except when it involves sensitive classified information, can solve many problems automatically.
But the Mapithel Dam uncertainty goes deeper. Newspaper reports in the past few weeks now have brought to the fore the insecurity of the population downstream. If Chadong and other villages in the dam area are having to shift villages, downstream villagers now fear their lives are in danger as the dam seems to be leaking and if this weakens the structural integrity of the dam, it could ultimately result in the disaster of a dam burst, wiping off everything in the path of the water released suddenly from the dam reservoir. Engineers handling the construction of the dam have since clarified there is no danger at all, and such leakages are absolutely normal. They better be very sure about this for on their words rests the lives of several thousand men, women and children. Or better still, to give confidence to those who think their lives are in danger from a possible disaster, these engineers should be made to camp at the vulnerable villages for a few months until the situation stabilises. To think this is just the beginning of the life of the dam is scary. If there have been structural flaws in the construction of the dam, it would mean threat to the lives and properties of many downstream villages until the dam`™s life come to an end and it is de-commissioned. Let a serious, expert assessment be made now, and if the dam is flawed, let it be decommissioned now before disaster strikes. Conceded the government would be under tremendous pressure at this moment, but let it also be known that its troubles are the fruits of its unmitigated vice of corruption through the decades.
Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam