CRA organises weeklong celebration of 'International Day of Action for Rivers'

IMPHAL, Mar 15
A weeklong celebration of the International Day of Action for Rivers, 2021 was organised jointly by the Centre for Research and Advocacy (CRA) Manipur, Jupiter Yambem Centre, Imphal and the JAC against Pabram Dam from March 10 to March 14.
A community meeting along the Barak River in Nheng (Langpram) village on March 11 and community awareness visits in several villages in the catchment areas of Barak River and Irang River in Tamei areas of Tamenglong district from March 12 to 14 were held to marked the International River Day celebration.
The International River Day celebration has been organised considering the increased threats to the free  flow and health of the Rivers in Manipur due to large dam construction, removal of boulders and sand using heavy machineries, destruction of forest in catchment areas of Rivers, increased pollution of Rivers and other unsustainable practices like using explosives, chemicals, inverter batteries for fishing etc., said a statement issued by Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur.
Enoch Newmai of the JAC against Pabram Dam said that the Barak river has been the target for construction of large dam including the one for the proposed 190 MW Pabram Hydroelectric Project and 67 MW Khongnem Chakha dam over the Barak river which, he said, will entail widespread submergence of forest and agricultural land in villages like Luangdi Pabram, Nheng, Khunphung, Piulong, Dikiuram etc in Tamei areas.
The community awareness visits in several villages noted with concern the widespread logging of forest areas in the catchment areas of Irang and Barak rivers and called for the free flow of the Barak river and to stop the construction of Pabram Dam and Khongnem Chakha Dam, added the statement.