IMPHAL | Sept 06, 2017: The Eastern Himalayan People’s Convention on protection of indigenous people and natural resources has demanded the decommissioning of failed, under-performing and unsustainable mega dams in North Eastern States.The dams include Ithai Barrage and Khuga dam in Manipur, Dumbur dam in Tripura and Ranganadi hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Convention organised by North East Dialogue Forum, was attended by representatives of Save Sikkim, Action Committee on Teesta, Borok Peoples Human Rights Organisation, Karbi Human Rights Watch, Centre for Research and Advocacy (Manipur), Khasi Students Union, Peoples Rights for Subansiri Valley, Youth Forum for Protection of Human Rights, Siang Peoples Forum and other civil society organisations.

Eastern Himalayan People’s Convention held here on Wednesday in their declaration has also resolved to stand against all mega dams in North East and urged the Government of India to revoke all Memorandum of Understandings and rescind all plans to build mega dams over the rivers of Eastern Himalayas.

The said mega dams are 1500 MW Tipaimukh dam and 190 MW Pabram dam over Barak river, 2000 MW Lower Subansiri dam, 2700 MW Lower Demwe Hydroelectric Project, dams in Tawang, etc. It also urged to stop the commissioning plan of Mapithel dam in Manipur and release of water from the dam reservoir.

Urging the authority to rescind all plans of UCIL to commercially mine uranium in Meghalaya including exploratory mining by AMD and stop all mining plans like Chromium and limestone mining in Manipur, Assam, etc, it resolved to urge upon the UCIL and other companies to withdraw from Meghalaya and North East.

Demanding to stop “all oil exploration and drilling across North East and to revoke all contracts and licenses awarded to oil companies like Jubilant Oil and Gas Private Limited, Oil India Limited, Asian Oilfields, CANARO, etc., for failing to respect indigenous peoples rights,” the declaration also appealed to repeal North East Hydrocarbon Vision, 2030, the Manipur Hydro Power Policy, 2012, Indian Oilfield Act, 1948, etc.

India’s Act East Policy should also stop causing harm and destruction of peoples land and resources and violation of their human rights, it said.

Urging the International Financial Institutions to respect indigenous peoples’ human rights, it appealed to review and rescind unsustainable and destructive development projects and policies to realise sustainable development goals.

(Source: http://www.assamtribune.com/)