DIMAPUR, JUNE 10 (MExN): Supporting the indigenous North East peoples’ struggle against the anti-people Tipaimukh Project, various Student Unions extended their sincere solidarity to the rally organised and initiated by the Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Project on June 7 at Jantar Mantar. The message of the rally was “Go Back NEEPCO” “Say ‘YES’ To People’s rights and Say ‘NO’ To Tipaimukh Dam” Say ‘YES’ To Political solution first and ‘NO’ To Profit-ridden anti-people dams” stated Nanda Kamei, Convenor ACTIP.
With the sincere solidarity by the NE students in Delhi, a clear message was send out to the Government of India and the concerned states that the indigenous peoples will not in any case allow to add salt into the already injured NE region stated Nanda Kamei, Convenor ACTIP in a release. Tipaimukh Dam with a length of 390 m, height of 162.8 m and altitude of 180 m above mean sea level is estimated to displace 1, 00,000 people of 14 villages and submerging more than 311 sq. km both in Manipur (Senapati, Tamenglong and Churachandpur)and Mizoram (Sinlung Hill District) including 60 km long NH-53 will lead to loss of land, forest, waters, rivers, natural resources, fauna and flora. The dam will be constructed at the expenses of the people to earn crores of Rupees by NEEPCO, Indian Government undertaking stated Nanda.
The North-eastern region generates 8071 MU against the required 7391MU. “The proposed Tipaimukh Dam which is projected with a 1500MW capacity is completely a non requirement as we already have a surplus power generation today” stated the release. “The truth is bare” stated Nanda and added, “When the dam is not required in terms of power generation, and the indigenous people have voiced so much against the proposal, there can only be a vested interest in such a proposal.”
“We, as students coming from our respective lands and areas, oppose the Tipaimukh Dam Project for the fact that the Indian Government and the concerned states have declared to construct it without the consent of the indigenous peoples of the areas” stated Nanda. Making its position clear to the Indian Government that imposition of such profit-ridden developmental project shall not be tolerated and accepted by the democratic indigenous peoples of the NE, the students made the Indian Government known that they stand firm to ‘protect our human rights, land, forest, natural resources, cultural heritage sites, waters, rivers, environment, eco-system, fauna and flora and above all our rights to life and livelihood as a people at any cost.’ Stating that such destructive dams will in no way help solve the problem faced by our people, the release stated, “We are resolute in our stands that we will always work towards achieving people’s aspiration to live in their own land and territory with honour and dignity.”
The students at this crucial juncture has further urged the indigenous peoples back home “not to give in to the State’s strategy of controlling us through machine guns and dubious developmental packages like the present dam project.” The students have also demanded an immediate withdrawal of the Tipaimukh Dam Project by the Indian Government. The Delhi students has also strongly urged the states concerned which have given green signal to the dam project to apologise to the people for going against the interest and aspiration of the peoples.
*{Solidarity from: Naga Students’ Union Delhi (NSUD), Ao Students’ Union Delhi (ASUD), Manipur Students’ Union Delhi (MSAD), Assam Students’ Association Delhi (ASAD), Meghalaya Students’ Union Delhi (MSUD), All Bodo Students’ Union Delhi.(ABSU)}
