Postpone construction of Ring Road without peoples participation

July 22, 2021

APPEAL TO POSTPONE AND STOP CONSTRUCTION OF RING ROAD WITHOUT THE PEOPLES PARTICIPATION

Youth's Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) would like to draw the attention of the the Office of DC, Imphal West to postpone the deadline for seeking public suggestions or opinions of the people for undertaking construction of portion of Imphal Ring Road (Langjing to Ghari via Lamjaotongba and spur to FCI Godown) through direct purchase of land with Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding.

We have learned in various projects initiated here in Manipur which is being funded by the ADB which violates the rights of the indigenous peoples destroying large scale forest, hills, paddy land etc which are the sources of livelihood for the people of Manipur.

Without considering the same the initiative of the DC, Imphal West vide letter no. DC(IW)/6/3/IRR/LA/2021 dated 16th July, 2021 calling for suggestion within 10 days is considered as an act to suppress the participation of people in decision making processes in development projects knowing the fact that Covid-19 lock down will be imposed from 18th of July, 2021 for 10 days.

We believe that, it is not the right time to seek opinion or suggestions from the affected general public who are psychologically, mentally and physically affected by this pandemic and also struggling for their lives for daily basic needs.

As the project of ADB earlier have already compromised large scale cultivable land in Manipur without providing alternative arrangement for the paddy production which use to be produced from the proposed area is considered yet another violation of right to food. Food Sovereignty of the people cannot be compromised with mere compensation which need to be considered by the ADB and the State Government.

We would like to remind the ADB and the State Government that it is mandatory to obtain free, prior, and informed consent of the people and to make public aware of the Detail Project Report (DPR). Moreover to this, it's mandated to take social impact assessment, environment impact assessment, cumulative impact assessment and human rights impact assessment before any development project is taken up.

We the youth of the state can no longer comprise destruction of wetland, paddy land and forest in the name of development. Therefore, we appeal the concerned DC, Imphal west, ADB and Government of Manipur to consider the facts mentioned above and to postpone the deadline until the affected people are ready to participate in the decision making process soon after Covid-19 crisis recovers in the best interest of the people.

(Kh. Phajaton)
Youth’s Forum For Protection Of Human Rights
Palace Compound West, Imphal East – 795001