Dimapur, January 26 (MExN): The governments of India and Myanmar have signed an agreement to construct a dam, Tamanthi dam, located at Tazone, Naga village on the Chindwin River in Myanmar. The agreement was signed without the consent of Naga people, and should be opposed by all Naga communities and organizations, a message appealed today. A message was received here today from a member of the Naga Youth Organization-Burma.
According to the NYOB member, S. Solomon Theibung, the Tamanthi Hydroelectric Power Project (THPP) is proposed at Tazone-Lawayyan on the Chindwin River around 35 km away from Homlin town east of Nagaland. The construction has been entrusted on National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), a Central Sector Indian power utility, by the Burmese Military Junta/State Peace and Development Council (SDPC). The agreement was signed between the SDPC and the Indian Government during General Than Shwe’s visit to India, the NYO stated.
The NYO stated – “The people who live along the banks of the Chindwin River, Nanteleik/Tizu/Sati River and Nawin River are 90% agrarians. The water reservoir also will reach up to Yannwe plain on the bank of the Nanteleik/Tizu/Sati River, the first tributary of the Chindwin River and Kantkodaw Naga village and Monkailin a Kuki village on the bank of Nawin River, the second tributary. Then, this statistics gives a rough view that tens of thousand acres of the agricultural land (80% agricultural land of the Nagas) will be submerged completely.”
The NYO is concerned that THPP will adversely affect the biodiversity, ecological balance and the climatic conditions of the region. “Floods caused by the dam would cover at least 3,000 square kilometers and flood in the upstream and changes in the morphology of the riverbed and bank will destroy the habitats of precious species of flora and fauna. Burma’s largest National Park is very close to the dam site,” the NYO said.
Another impact of the dam the NYO sees is extensive deforestation can result in massive soil erosion, reduce soil fertilely and agricultural productivity, catastrophic floods and acute water shortages.
The NYO has urged the Indian and Myanmar governments to cancel or suspend the Tamanthi Hydroelectric Power Project until a genuine political reconciliation is reached between ethnic groups and the Myanmar government and consultative people’s participation in decision making takes place; call for ban on and oppose all forms of investment and development assistance in to Burma until genuine democracy is restored. The NYO also urges the India and its people to support immediate peaceful democratic change in Burma.
“Therefore, it is our humble request to our brothers and sisters (DAN, NPMHR, NH, NSF, MNA, NBCC, MBC, NEPO, CNSC, UNC, ANSAM, NSCNs, NNC and many other Naga organizations) in India to reach out to us in every possible way and to uphold us by raising voice against Delhi to stop helping of the junta in materializing this heinous project and to let review the Look East Policy of Delhi. In the name of development, the military will have sold off the fertile Naga lands and the identity of the Naga people.”
