Imphal, Dec 19 : A three-day workshop on decreasing settlement areas in the state due to the industrialisation policies of the Indian government was organised by the Citizens Concern for Dam and Development (CCDD) at Khuman Lampak youth hostel in Imphal today.
While giving the introductary speech the secretary of CCDD, Jiten Yumnam mentioned that the state government in the name of developmental activities had befooled the people as they were trying to implement any major project without taking the consent of the people.
He further said that the state government had failed to take any public comment and assessment before the state government and NEEPCO launched the programme for construction of the Tipaimukh dam, and despite serious concerns shown by the people affected by the Loktak project the state government and the NHPC had failed to compensate for the paddy fields destroyed by the Loktak project till today.
Joseph H Hmar, a social activist and a student leader, while giving his views said that the issue of Tipaimukh dam was causing a conflict situation as the proposed project was a serious threat to the indigenous lands which the tribal people depended on for protecting their identity. The tribal populace of the affected areas are not in a position to sacrifice their identity for the sake of Tipaimukh dam, he added.
He also mentioned that it had become a challenging factor for those tribal people to fight against the forced displacement for the cause of constructing a dam, and the existing government had failed to understand this.
On the first day of the workshop organised by the CCDD today, discussions were held on the topic of `Understanding development dynamics in Manipur` in which the problems facing the affected families of displacement and dislocation by the develpoment process in the state.
The workshop will also discuss the problems emerging out of the ongoing projects like the Loktak project, Tipaimukh dam, Khuga dam, Mapithel dam, airport expansion, Capitol project, industrial growth centre and other projects being undertaken in the state.
Impact of industrialisation policy on state discussed
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