GO BACK NHPC: ITHAI PEOPLE

Pothashang News Service

Imphal, November 17: People at the surrounding of Ithai in Bishnupur today blocked road pressing on their demand to decommission Ithai Barrage project holding placard embedded “GO BACK NHPC”.

National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) takes up the project on Loktak Lake to Loktak Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project.

People in the state has been demanding for years to decommission the Ithai barrage and Loktak Hydro project as it bring comparative loss to the people and environment.

Governor Dr Najma A Heptulla on November 19 assured that she would pursue the government to decommission the Ithai Barrage in order to maintain ecological balance in the state.

She was at the launching programme of “Anthropogenic impact & their management options in the different ecosystems of the Indian Himalayan region (Imphal/Manipur river basin)” and “CSIR-Aroma Mission” at CSIR-NEIST, BLIM, Imphal.

She said the commissioning of the barrage has posed a serious threat to the ecological balance of the State, particularly to Loktak Lake and its surrounding areas .

According to Jiten Yumnam, Centre for Research and Advocacy Manipur secretary, construction of Ithai barrage not only affected the upstream habitats but also the downstream. It was constructed as part of the Loktak hydroelectric project which submerged more than 80,000 hectares of agriculture land

United NGO Mission Manipur secretary, U. Nobokishore earlier in a meeting on the discussion over the Ithai Barrage issue said it has been confirmed that there is complete absence of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the NHPC and the government of Manipur on the operation and functioning of the 105 MW Loktak Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project.

The project was commissioned in 1984.

+ There are no comments

Add yours