Sunday, November 27, 2011

Re: [mukto-mona] Protests in India over Tipaimukh dam

As you know, the rest of the India is isolated from the north-eastern belt without transiting through Bangladesh. If I am not mistaken, Bangladesh has declined the transit facility request, mostly due to political pressure. Without transiting through Bangladesh, India may have hard time to stop the cessation movement in the north-eastern belt, and, I suspect, Tipaimukh barrage plan may be in response to the failed transit facility. This is my speculation. I could be wrong.

Jiten Roy

From: Sukhamaya Bain <subain1@yahoo.com>
To: "mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com" <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 8:42 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Protests in India over Tipaimukh dam

There is no evidence behind Dr. Roy's conjecture that India intended to put pressure on Bangladesh via construction of the Tipaimukh dam. I think they are just trying to help themselves by producing hydroelectric power via this dam. There is no reason to doubt India's assertion to Bangladesh that this dam is not for diverting water for irrigation. Of course, it would be reasonable to think that while India produces electricity via this dam, they might not care much about the totally natural water flow that Bangladesh has been getting now. Bangladesh should demand that India would care about the interests of Bangladesh in terms of smooth water flow and ecology, even when the water is not diverted for irrigating India's land. It is certainly a matter of each party looking after their own interests, where international law and fair-play should prevail over any kind of power-play.

BTW: I do not think even Farakka was for pressuring Bangladesh; it was also for India to serve its own interests. While big brotherly power-play is not fair, from the current Farakka water sharing agreements, we know that Bangladesh can get most benefit via friendly relationship with India, as opposed to playing too much of anti-India politics.

Sukhamaya Bain

From: Jiten Roy <jnrsr53@yahoo.com>
To: "mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com" <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 5:01 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Protests in India over Tipaimukh dam

In my opinion, the issue of Tipaimukh barrage is a political issue, and it has something to do with China. In the North-Eastern belt, moist insurgencies have increased critically. China is heavily engaged in that region. In fact – India is about to lose this region to China. In this game, Bangladesh is much more interested to align with China than India. For India, this barrage is nothing but a new pressure point for Bangladesh.

As you know – anti-Indian sentiment is prevalent among most people in Bangladesh. It has been the most precious political weapon for the BNP/Jamat. Even many Awami-leaguers are privately anti-Indian. This sentiment changed only for a brief period around the liberation movement. It will be naive to think that Indians do not know this already. Of course they do. Under the circumstances, what is expected from India other than another pressure-point?

This reminds me of a famous political statement of De Gaulle (in English): "France has no friends, only interests." – A country has no friends, only interests. This is the eternal truth.

Jiten Roy

From: qar <qrahman@netscape.net>
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Protests in India over Tipaimukh dam

Bangladeshi people and government needs to join good people of India in this protest. We have ensure survival of our country and our families. If India keeps putting dams in all INTERNATIONAL rivers, we all will lose ( Including India). We live in 21st century and now smart people seek win-win deals, but unfortunately India stuck into OLD policies of being hostile towards her neighbors. We all know this approach delivered nothing for Pakistan, I do not know how the hell India is following such suicidal policies and making citizens of India and Bangladesh suffer!!!

-----Original Message-----
From: Farida Majid <farida_majid@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sat, Nov 26, 2011 5:49 am
Subject: [mukto-mona] Protests in India over Tipaimukh dam

Tipai project triggers protests in India

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Saturday, 26 November 2011

Author / Source : STAFF REPORTER

Dhaka, Nov 25: Different environmental, social , NGOs and political parties in Assam and Manipur have become vocal in protesting against the central government for constructing the Tipaimukh dam in Churachanpur district under Manipur in India, according to reports reaching Dhaka. Protests over the construction of the controversial construction of Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Power (HEP) Project continue also in other parts of India.
Meanwhile, a committee on people's and environment (COPE) has been reportedly observing five-day sit-in agitation in Assam from Thursday which will continue till Monday. COPE has also submitted a memorandum addressed to the chief ministers of Assam and Manipur, prime minister of India and also central environment and energy ministers to stop construction of the dam.
Protests over the planned construction of the Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Power (HEP) Project continue even in Manipur where the site is located and Assam.
A leading civil society group North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) said, the controversial construction of mega dam on the Barak river in Manipur disrespects the calls of the people from both upstream and downstream (Barak valley) for seeking their consent and to adhere to existing environmental and social norms.
The Manipuri newspaper Hueiyen Lanpao reported this Friday.

Co-ordinator of the Forum S Dhanabir said, the project proponents of the Tipaimukh HEP are yet to conduct a detailed and independent Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), which is required under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 of India and its amendment of 1994, where data should encompass information collected over a period of at least one year of all seasons to bring out the likely impact of the project on ecology, environment, human and wild life population at the site itself and both up and downstream.
For this reason, people from upstream and downstream, both in Barak Valley and Bangladesh, protesting the construction of Tipaimukh dam for ages, he pointed out.
"It is a fact that the planning of the Tipaimukh Dam Project was done by the government of India without proper research on its social and environmental impact in Manipur, said S Dhanabir urging the Manipur government to negotiate with the centre for adequate compensation to the state and indigenous people inhabiting the project area after re-assessing the exact damage the project would cause to the land, wildlife and the culture of thousands of families around the project," said a report written by S Dhanabir, the social activist and founder administrator of JNU.
He said on completion of the Tipaimukh Dam Project, a lake of 240 sq. km will be created in the project area and consequently thousands of people around the lake will lose their livelihood.

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