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Tanvir Ahmad Arjel

THE Tipaimukh Dam is a proposed Hydroelectric project that is going to be built on the confluence of the Rivers Barak and Tuivai in the Manipur state of India just 100 kilometres off the Bangladesh border. It is likely to affect two major rivers of Bangladesh, the Surma and the Kushiara, and the 60000 Manipuri people who depend on the river for livelihood and other activities.

The dam was originally designed to contain flood waters in the lower Barak valley, but hydro power generation was later incorporated into the project. While Hydroelectric projects are typically considered greener than other power generation options in short term, they have significant long-term impact to the environment like changes in the ecosystem, destruction of nearby settlements and changing of habitat conditions of people, fish and wildlife, especially in densely populated countries like India and Bangladesh, where rivers are lifelines.

    According to Wikipedia, the Tipaimukh area lies in an ecologically sensitive and topographically fragile region. It falls under one of the most seismically volatile regions on the planet. If this dam is built then the whole North Eastern Bangladesh, especially the Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulavibazar, Habiganj, Bramhonbaria, Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Norshingdi and Narayanganj districts will face severe environmental and economical consequences. Agriculture, fisheries and wildlife will be under threat. There will be more floods in rainy season and less water in dry season. A total area of land 286.20 square kilometres will be submerged forever. About 27,242 hectares of cultivable land will be lost. More than 40,000 people will be rendered landless. Eight villages situated at the Barak Valley will be completely underwater. More than 90 villages mostly of Tamenglong district will be adversely affected. Barak waterfalls and Zeilad Lake, which are connected with the history of the Zeliangrong people, will be forever underwater and all folklores and legends will be rendered into nothing but made-up stories for the next generation.

According to international laws, no country can control the international rivers without the consent of the downstream river countries when it damages the environment. But the sad fact is that nobody cares for these international laws. Might is always right when it comes to interpreting these laws. As Bangladesh is not powerful like India in economic and military aspects, we are always pushed aside. Apart from the people of Bangladesh, this project also faced protests from people who will potentially be affected in India. It is being said that this dam is being built by controlling the rivers for the greater interest of the people of North Eastern India to prevent flood in the Asam region and produce electricity. About 20 influential socio-political organisations in Manipur have united in the banner of ‘Action Committee against Tipaimukh Project’ and are protesting against the project. The reason – this dam will bring more miseries to those people than the profits pledged. The Sinlung Indigenous People Human Rights Organisation of India said that ‘the process for choosing it (the project premises) ignored both the indigenous people and the recommendations of the WCD (World Commission on Dams)’. Yet, the Indian government seems to be going ahead with the plan. When developed countries are backing out from controlling the nature through infrastructures like building dams, keeping the long term effect on environment in mind, the decision of India to build this dam requires more introspection

Md Tanvir Ahmad Arjel

University of Dhaka