Plausible Impacts of Tipaimukh Dam on Environment and Livelihoods

PLAUSIBLE IMPACT
OF
TIPAIMUKH DAM
ON
ENVIRONMENT AND LIVELIHOOD
M. Anowar Hossain
Roll: AA-04, 4th Semester
Master
in
Development Studies
Department of Development Studies
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
June, 2005

PLAUSIBLE IMPACT OF TIPAIMUKH DAM
ON
ENVIRONMENT AND LIVELIHOOD
M. Anowar Hossain
Roll: AA-04, 4th
Semester
The dissertation paper, submitted to Department of Development
Studies, University of Dhaka, Dhaka in partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the Degree of
Master
in
Development Studies
University of Dhaka
Bangladesh
June, 2005

THE DISSERTATION TITLE
“PLAUSIBLE IMPACT OF TIPAIMUKH DAM ON ENVIRONMENT AND
LIVELIHOOD”, Roll: AA-04, has been accepted as satisfactory in
partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master in
Development Studies on
------------------------------------------------
Salauddin M. Aminuzzaman Chairman
Professor and Chairman
University of Dhaka
Dhaka
---------------------------------------------
Shuchita Sharmin Supervisor
Lecturer
University of Dhaka
Dhaka

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Logically, a study is the crystallization of the thoughts of many committed to that by one
person. In view of this, I gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness to Shuchita Sharmin,
lecturer, Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka for her guidance,
encouragement, supervision and valued suggestions in all stages of this course of action. It
was a great privilege for the researcher to work under Shuchita Sharmin, whose keen
interest made it possible to accomplish this piece of work.
I am extremely indebted to my external, Shihab Uddin Ahamad, Head, Livelihood
Security and Risk Reduction Sector, Action Aid Bangladesh for his sincere co-operation and
helping hands in different issues while necessary. Without whom my research work would
not have been possible to carry out.
I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Zahurul Islam, professor, Institute of Water
and Flood Management, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and Dr.
Salahuddin M. Aminuzzaman, professor and chairman, Department of Development
Studies, University of Dhaka.
Finally, I must acknowledge my gratitude to Sharif Mehedi Hasan and Md. Mamun Mia who
are my cousin for their all time cooperation which has come to a great help in case of my
dissertation paper.
June, 2005 M. Anowar Hossain

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Amidst mounting protests both at home and in lower – riparian Bangladesh, India is going
ahead with the plan to construct its largest and most controversial 1500 mw hydroelectric
dam project on the river Barak at Tipaimukh on the common borders of three northeastern
states of Assam, Manipur and Mizoram. The proposed Tipaimukh dam will be constructed
500 m downstream from the confluence of the Barak and the Tuivai rivers in the
southwestern corner of Manipur (24°14′ N and 93º1.3′ E approximately). The river Barak
is the second largest drainage system in northeast India. Officials and experts in Dhaka are
afraid of the unilateral Indian move to construct the massive dam and regulate water flow
of the Barak, which both the Surma and Kushiara rivers in the North- Eastern region, will
have lasting adverse effects on livelihoods, ecology and environment in a vast region of
Bangladesh. The river Barak has entered into Bangladesh through Zakiganj in Sylhet and is
flowing in two directions - Surma and Kushiara.‘The Timpaimukh Dam will choke up the
Surma and Kushiara rivers during the dry season and leave similar effect on us as the
Farakka barrage is doing. Obstruction to the natural flow of the Surma and Kushiara will
seriously hamper agriculture in at least seven districts of Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj,
Sunamganj, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj and Netrokona that produce bulk of the country’s
rice crop
This paper analyzes the plausible Impact of Tipaimukh Dam in socio-economical conditions
of people of Bangladesh and on environment also. The paper also contain about the
violation of International watercourse convention by India and an overview of the
proposed Tipaimukh dam. Recommendations have been proposed to protect the
implementation of this dam.
ABSTRACT

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract II
Table of contents III-V
List of tables VI
List of figures VI
Abbreviation VII
Acronyms VII
CHAPTER І: INTRODUCTION 1-10
1.1 Background of the study 1
1.2 Objectives 2
1.3 Justification of the study 2
1.4 Study area 3-10
1.4.1 Introduction 3
1.4.2 Climate 3
1.4.3 Topology 4
1.4.4 Physiography and land forms 4
1.4.5 Agro-ecological Zones 5
1.4.6 Soils 6
1.4.7 Land Use/Land Cover 6
1.4.8 Surma-Kushiyara River System 7
1.4.9 River System Discharge 7
1.4.10 River Channel Characteristics 8
1.4.11 Area of Population 8
1.4.12 Demographic Characteristics 9
1.4.13 Kalni-Kushiyara River Condition 9
1.4.14 River Navigation Network 10
1.5 Report Format 10

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CHAPTER ІІ: LITERATURE REVIEW 11-13
2.1 Introduction 11
2.2 Impact of Dam 11-13
CHAPTER ІІІ: PROPOSED TIPAIMUKH DAM 14-17
3.1 Introduction 14
3.2 Description of Tipaimukh Dam 14-17
3.2.1 Location 14
3.2.2 Dimension of the dam 14
3.2.3 Purpose of the Dam 14
3.2.4 Area Coverage 14
3.2.5 Date of completion of the project 15
3.2.6 Implementing Agencies 15
3.2.7 Total Cost 15
3.2.8 People’s Perception Regarding the Tipaimukh Dam in India 16-17
CHAPTER ІV : PROPOSED TIPAIMUKH DAM:
VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
18
4.1 Introduction 18
4.2 Violation of UN Water Course Convention 18
4.3 Violation of World Bank Environmental Policy 18
CHAPTER V: METHODOLOGY 19-21
5.1 Outline of Methodology 19
5.1.1 Techniques 19
5.1.2 Tools 20
5.1.3 Data analyses, Report writing and Presentation 20
5.2 The flow-chart of the methodology 21
CHAPTER VІ: IMPACTS OF PROPOSED TIPAIMUKH DAM 22-30
6.1 Introduction 22
6.2 Impact on Hydrology 23
6.2.1 Introduction 23
6.2.1.1 Flood 23
6.2.1.2 Siltation 23

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6.3 Impact on Agriculture 23-25
6.3.1 Introduction 23-24
6.3.2 Decrease in agricultural land 25
6.3.3 Change in cropping areas for different harvests and reduction in
yields of agricultural crops
25
6.3.4 Decrease in natural fertility ands productivity of agricultural lands 25
6.3.5 Decrease in siltation over the agricultural lands 25
6.3.6 Decrease in pasture land and fodder 25
6.3.7 Reduction in agro-industries 25
6.3.8 Unemployment of agricultural sector 25
6.4 Impacts on Fisheries 26
6.5 Impacts on Socio-economy 26-27
6.5.1 Decrease in employment opportunity in agricultural sector 27
6.5.2 Decrease in income of the farmers 27
6.5.3 Change in occupation 27
6.6 Impacts on environment 27-29
6.6.1 Physical and chemical environment 27
6.6.2 Biological Environment 28
6.6.3 Cultural environment 28
6.6.4 Socio-economic environment 29
6.7 Experts views regarding the Tipaimukh Dam 29-30
CHAPTER VII: IMPACT OF TIPAIMUKH DAM ON INDIA AND
GO, NGO VIEWS
31-35
7.1 Impacts at a glance: Merits and Demerits 31-32
7.2 Regions to be affected 32-33
7.3 GO and NGO stand 33-34
7.4 Submission of Memoranda 35
CHAPTER VIII: RECOMMENDATIONS 36-37
8.1 Recommendations for the present situation 36-37
BIBLIOGRAPHY 38-39
APPENDICES viii-x

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LIST OF TABLES
Table No. Table Title Page No.
Table 1.4.2 Seasonal Distribution of Annual Rainfall 4
Table 1.4.7 Land Use Survey 6
Table 1.4.8 Kushiyara River System 7
Table 1.4.11 Study Area and Population 9
Table 2.2.1 The Chief Environmental Impacts of dams 11
Table 2.2.2 Social and Economic Implication of Dams 12
Table 6.1 Sectors and the percentage of the respondents infavor of
the negative impacts
22
Table 6.2.1 The percentage of respondents infavor of the negative
impacts on hydrology
23
Table 6.3.1 The percentage of the respondents in favor of the
negative impacts of drainage congestion in Beel Kuralia on
agriculture
24
Table 6.5 The percentage of the respondents in favor of the
negative impacts of the proposed dam on socio-economy
of the region
27
Table 6.7 Experts views regarding the Tipaimukh Dam 29-30
Table 7.2.1 Tributary- wise submergence areas 32
Table 7.2.2 Land use Pattern in the submergence Area 32
Table 7.2.3 Name of the regions to be affected 33
Table 7.2.4 Present level of affected Bridges in Tipaimukh
reservoir area
33
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure No. Figure Title Page No.
Figure-01 Showing the location of Tipaimukh dam 15
Figure 6.1 Sectors and the percentage of the respondent’s incase
of the negative impacts
22
Figure 6.3.1 The percentage of the respondents in case of the
negative impacts of dam on agriculture
24

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ABBREVIATIONS
AEZ : Agro-Ecological Zones
ANSAM : All Naga Student’s Association Manipu
AZSU : All Zeliangrong Student’s Union
BRRI : Bangladesh Rice Research Institute
BARC : Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council
BELA : Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association
BDMR : Bureau of Disaster Management and Relief
BWDB : Bangladesh Water Development Board
BUWTA : Bangladesh Inland Waterways Transportations Authority
BBS : Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
CATD : Committee against Tipaimukh Dam
CEGIS : Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information
Service
EIA : Environmental Impact Assessment
FGD : Focus Group Discussion
GBM : Ganges-Brahmaputra- Meghna
ILO : International Organization
IUCN : The World Conservation Union
IWM : Institute of Water Modeling
IWFM : Institute of Water and Flood Management
IRR : Internal Rate of Return
KKRS : Kalni Kushiyara River System
KKRB : Kalni-Kushiyara River Basin
LGED : Local Government Engineering Department
LAD : Least Available Department
MPCB : Mizoram Pollution Control Board
NEEPCO : North-Eastern Electronic Power Co-operation
NERP : Northeast Regional Water Management
NPMHR : Naga Peoples Movements for Human Right
PWD : Public Works Department
SWMC : Surface Water Modeling Centre
UNDP : United Nations Development programme
UN : United Nations
UNC : United Naga Council
WRC : Wet Rice Cultivation
ZU : Zeliangrong Union
ZSUM : Zeliangrong Student’s Union Manipur
ZYF : Zeliangrong Youth Front
ZWUM : Zeliangrong Women Union Manipur
ACRONYMS
Ha – hectare
Kg – Kilogram
Km – Kilometer
m - metre

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Objectives
1.3 Justification of the study
1.4 Study area
1.4.1 Introduction
1.4.2 Climate
1.4.3 Topology
1.4.4 Physiography and land forms
1.4.5 Agro-ecological Zones
1.4.6 Soils
1.4.7 Land Use/Land Cover
1.4.8 Surma-Kushiyara River System
1.4.9 River System Discharge
1.4.10 River Channel Characteristics
1.4.11 Area of Population
1.4.12 Demographic Characteristics
1.4.13 Kalni-Kushiyara River Condition
1.4.14 River Navigation Network
1.5 Report Format

Plausible Impact of Tipaimukh Dam
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
The water disputes between the South Asian Countries provide classic examples of the
contentiousness of the issues involved in the management of international river basins.
One major cause behind the failure of these countries in finding a comprehensive solution
to these disputes is their reluctance to embrace the more recent norms of relevant
international law. India and Bangladesh share many rivers and water resources .The rivers
that flow across the northern parts of India are mostly international rivers or their
tributaries. In the north – eastern region, the Brahmaputra river and the Barak river are
both international rivers. These two rivers play a vital role for sharing the joys and sorrows
by the people of Bangladesh and northeastern India. Since the partition of India, its
government has initiated many river projects that have innumerous negative impacts on
the socio-economy, environment, agriculture, fisheries, hydrology, ecology etc. of
Bangladesh located at the downstream of those projects that has to receive all the
development detritus.
In India too, people will have to suffer a lot for this mega project. The total area required
for construction including submergence area is 30860 ha of which 20,797 ha is forest land,
1,195 ha is village land, 6,160 ha is horticultural land, and 2,525 ha is agricultural land. As
per estimates of the authorities themselves, the project will totally affect 311sq. km and 8
villages, 1461 Hmar families in all. The project will submerge altogether 60 kms of National
Highway No 53, the only alternative lifeline to NH-39 at three different points with two
major bridges. The main sources of livelihood of the people are agriculture and
horticulture. With the construction of Tipaimukh high dam more than 67 villages will be
deprived of their source of livelihood.
Amidst mounting protests both at home and in lower – riparian Bangladesh, India is going
ahead with the plan to construct its largest and most controversial 1500 mw hydroelectric
dam project on the river Barak at Tipaimukh on the common borders of three northeastern
states of Assam, Manipur and Mizoram.
The proposed Tipaimukh dam will be constructed 500 m downstream from the confluence
of the Barak and the Tuivai rivers in the southwestern corner of Manipur (24°14′ N and
93º1.3′ E approximately). The river Barak is the second largest drainage system in
northeast India. It starts from the Lai-Lyai village in Senapati district of Manipur and
meanders through the Senapati, Tamenglong Churachandpur districts and also through the
Jiribam subdivision of Manipur. The upper Barak catchments area extends over almost the
entire north, northwestern, western and southwestern portion of the state. The middle
course lies in the plain areas of Cachar of Assam, while the lower, deltaic course is in
Bangladesh. The Barak valley is the natural flooding plain of the Barak River. Floods are
frequent in the Barak drainage system and part of the natural cycle. In a attempt to
control frequent flooding in the lower Barak plain, several proposals to dam the Barak river
have been raised within government and political circles since pre- independence days. In
1954, the Assam government requested the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the
Planning Commission to identify a suitable location where the monsoon waters of the
Barak could be impounded to form an artificial flooding zone. Accordingly, the North-
Eastern Council (NEC) entrusted the investigation work to the CWC. The CWC submitted
their report in 1984, which proposed the construction of the Tipaimukh high dam. However
the report was turned down for the lack of proper environmental impact assessment of the
submergible areas. Again, in 1995, at the request of the NEC, the Brahmaputra Board

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prepared the Detailed Project Report. There was no progress after this. Finally, in 1999,
the Brahmaputra Board handed over the project to the Northeast Electric Power
Corporation Limited (NEEPCO). On January 18, 2003; the project received the all-
important notification under section 29 of the Electricity Act. And at last Manmohan Singh,
the Indian Prime Minister was scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Tipaimukh dam
on November 23, 2004. It was known from the report reaching from across the border the
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Tipaimukh Dam recently on the
river Barak in Manipur, about 25 km from the Zakiganj border of Sylhet (Kibria and
Laifungbam, 2003; p-39),
The dam would be an earthen – rock filled dam to be constructed with the length of 390 m
and height 162.8 m at an altitude of about 180 m above mean sea level with a maximum
reservoir level of 178m. The dam was originally designed to contain floodwaters in the
lower Barak valley but hydropower generation was later incorporated into the project. The
project will have an installation capacity of 6×250=1500 MW and a firm generation of 412
MW. The dam would be completed by the year 2012 at a cost of Rs 4000 crores (ibid, p-
40).
1.2 Objectives of the Study
The study was conducted with the following objectives:
1. To study the plausible impacts of Tipaimukh Dam on the socio-economical
conditions of the people of Bangladesh.
2. To study about the impacts of Tipaimukh Dam on the environment of
Bangladesh (Especially on north-eastern region of the country).
3. To make necessary recommendations and suggest remedial measures to
minimize the negative impacts of Tipaimukh Dam.
1.3 Justification of the Study
Officials and experts in Dhaka are afraid of the unilateral Indian move to construct the
massive dam and regulate water flow of the Barak, which both the Surma and Kushiara
rivers in the North- Eastern region, will have lasting adverse effects on livelihoods, ecology
and environment in a vast region of Bangladesh.
The river Barak has entered into Bangladesh through Zakiganj in Sylhet and is flowing in
two directions - Surma and Kushiara.‘The Timpaimukh Dam will choke up the Surma and
Kushiara rivers during the dry season and leave similar effect on us as the Farakka barrage
is doing’, an engineer of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said. “Obstruction
to the natural flow of the Surma and Kushiara will seriously hamper agriculture in at least
seven districts of Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sunamganj, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj
and Netrokona that produce bulk of the country’s rice crop” the engineer added (Pakistan
Times, 2005).
The Barak and its main distributaries river Surma and Kushiara fall within the Meghna
basin, member of one of the world’s most dynamic and diversified hydrologic basin trio-
Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) river system. The total drainage area of the GBM
region is about 1.75 million sq. km-stretching across five countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan,
China, India and Nepal, of which Meghna basin is the smallest but most unpredictable and
chaotic in hydrologic means. Barak and then Surma, Kushiara river receive all the surface
water originated in Meghna basin, carry down to the upper Meghna River, and join with
Padma river at farther downstream. Combined flow then move further southward naming
Lower Meghna or Meghna river to Bay of Bengal. Now, proposed Tipaimukh Dam will be
constructed on Barak river by controlling the stream flow of it, create a huge reservoir
upstream of the dam to develop one of largest hydroelectric power plant in eastern India.

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The dam site is located at around 100km. upstream from the diverging point of Barak river
into two rivers. Surma-Kushiara, where Surma-Kushiara is the main distributary channels in
the north-eastern part of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, experts in Bangladesh have expressed their apprehension about the project
that is sure to block the flow of the country’s major riverine network in the north-east and
have further disastrous consequences downstream. They claim that it could hit the country
fatally, or have consequences of no less magnitude than the Farakka Barrage across the
Ganges to the north-west of Bangladesh. “After completion of the project, Bangladesh
would get less water in three rivers-the Meghna, the Surma and the Kushiara,” Quamrul
Islam Siddiqui the president of the Institute of Engineers and chairman of the Global Water
Partnership, Bangladesh chapter, told the New Age. “The Tipaimukh dam could spell
disaster for Bangladesh”(The New Age, 2004).
However, the significant change of Bangladesh environment would be happened due to
the creation of Tipaimukh Dam which are mentioned below:
 Change in downstream morphology of riverbed and banks, delta, estuary and
coastline due to altered sediment load.
 Change in downstream water quality: effects on river temperature, nutrient load,
turbidity, dissolved gases, concentrations of heavy metals and minerals.
 Reduction of aquatic bio-diversity due to blocking of movement of organisms.
 Hydroelectric reservoirs are actually themselves major sources of green house
gases.
 Changes in downstream hydrology
 Loss of community control over water. So it has also a range of social impacts.
 Finally, it has environmental and socio-economic impacts on Bangladesh.
So a study in this regard is considered to be useful to assess the plausible
impacts of Tipaimukh Dam to be constructed on the Barak River at Tipaimukh in
Manipur on livelihood in Bangladesh.
1.4 Study Area
1.4.1 Introduction
The Kalni-Kushiyara River System (KKRS) covers a gross area of 335,600 ha between
latitude 24°56' and 24° 15' N and longitude 92°05' and 90°55'E. It extends over the
districts of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulavibazar, Habiganj and Kishoreganj. The study area is
bounded by the Kushiyara-Bijna-Ratna-Sutang River system on the south, the old Surma-
Dahuka River system and Jagannathpur-Sylliet road on the north, Old Surma-Baulai
River system on the west, and the Sylhet-Kaktai village road on the east.
1.4.2 Climate
The study area generally experiences the sub-tropical monsoon climate typical of
Bangladesh, with variations due to its location and topography. Mean annual rainfall
increases from an average of 2,572 mm/year in the south (at Habiganj) to 5,641 mm/year
(at Sunamganj) in the north, or by 119% across the project area. This increase is mainly
attributable to the presence of the Shillong Plateau to the north. The mean annual rainfalls
during the period 1961-90 were 10% greater than those during the period 1901-30. The
annual rainfalls during the period 1961-90 were 1.95 times as variable as those during the
period 1901-30. It is possible that the indicated trends may reflect only a rise to the peak
of some long-term climatic cycle, but they may reflect a monoclinal rise due to global

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climatic change. However, caution should be exercised in interpreting these results, due to
the relatively high proportion of synthetic data (NERP, 1995).
There are four more or less distinct seasons in the study area. The following table reflects
the seasonal distribution of the annual rainfall (Table: 1.4.2).
Table 1.4.2 Seasonal Distribution of Annual Rainfall
Season Nature of
Runoff
Calendar
Period
% of Annual Rainfall in Project Area
South
(Habigonj)
Middle
(Markulli)
North
(Sunamgonj)
Dry Drought Dec.-Mar. 4 3 2
Pre-
monsoon
Flash
Floods
Apr. & May 25 25 15
Monsoon Flooding June-Sep. 65 67 78
Post-
monsoon
Drainage Oct. and
Nov.
6 5 5
Source: FAP-6, 1997.
The rainfall is heavily concentrated during the monsoon season, but more so in the north
than the south. The dry season is slightly more pronounced in the north than the south.
The most distinctive climatic events of the year are the onset and withdrawal of tile
monsoon. In the project area, onset occurs 1 June plus or minus about 4 days on average.
Withdrawal occurs 7 October plus or minus about 14 days on average. The average
duration of the monsoon is 122 days, with a variation of 112 to 139 days.
Maximum temperature varies from 27.6°c to 35.0°c.The highest temperatures are
experienced during the pre-monsoon period. Daily minimum temperature can fluctuate
significantly during the year, ranging from 9 °c to 23 °c.
1.4.3 Topography
The land in the study area is generally low-lying and of low relief. Approximately 80% of
the land lies below 7 m PWD and 50% of the land lies below 5 m PWD. The land generally
slopes downward from east to west and from the Kalni-Kushiyara River banks towards the
central depressions in the north and south, the highest land is found along the courses of
the major rivers, while the lowest is found in the adjacent flood basins Drainage is
generally from northeast to southwest.
1.4.4 Physiography and land forms
The landforms in the study area have formed as a result of alluvial sediment deposition on
a slowly subsiding tectonic basin. Consequently, most of the area is underlain by Holocene-
age alluvial, estuarine and lacustrine deposits. The study area is comprised of three main
physiographic units: uplands, lowlands floodplain and flood basins (GSB, 1990 and Rashid,
1991). Uplands cover about 1 % of the study area and are located in the northeast. They
are comprised of merging alluvial fans that slope gently outwards from the foothills.
The lowland floodplain comprises about 34%, or 1,137 km2
of the study area. The
floodplain contain channel deposits such as meander scrolls and fills, over bank deposits
such as natural levees and crevasse splays, flood basin and back-channel deposits. Levees

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are wedge-shaped ridges of sediment bordering stream channels and are most highly
developed on the convex side of meander bends. Levees are generally socially significant
landforms since they usually provide the highest (and only relatively flood-free) land for
situating villages and settlements.
Flood basins cover about 65% of the study area. This physiographic unit is characterized
by large, saucer-shaped depressions known as haors. Haor land is generally very low-lying
and often contains permanent water bodies or heels. During the monsoon season, all of
the haor areas are deeply flooded. The haors comprise the prime agricultural land of the
study area, but seasonal inundation is a constraint to agriculture. In most areas only the
born (dry season) rice crop can be grown, but this is liable to flood damage in the pre-
monsoon season. Haors and beefs are also important habitat for fish and other wildlife.
Flood water often spills through distinct breaches or through formerly silted-in channels
(khals) that cut across levees. These breaches or dhalas develop a drainage pattern into
the adjacent low-lying flood basins and can cause major crop damage in the pre-monsoon
season. These channels are also responsible for depositing large quantities of sediment
(crevasse splays) into adjacent beefs or lowlands
Channel shifts and natural cutoffs produce ox-bow lakes, abandoned distributaries
channels and heels. These features tray persist for many decades, but will eventually infill
as a result of over bank sedimentation. Infilling is greatly accelerated when channel
breaches erode large amounts of bank material and deposit the sediments in the first slack
water that is encountered.
1.4.5 Agro-ecological Zones
The study area occupies five agro-ecological zones (AEZ): the Old Meghna Estuarine
Floodplain (AEZ 19), Eastern Surma-Kushiyara Floodplain (AEZ 20), Sylhet Basin (AEZ 21),
Northern and Eastern Piedmont Plains (AEZ 22), and Northern and Eastern Hill (AEZ 29).
All the zones excepting AEZ 20 are divided into sub-zones. The sub-zones are
differentiated by relief and flooding characteristics.
Old Meghna Estuarine Floodplain
This land occupies the eastern part of Kishoreganj district and the western part of Habiganj
district. It consists of nearly featureless flat land and shallow basins that were formed in
earlier Holocene time by estuarine sedimentation. Elevation ranges from 3 to 5 m. PWD.
The sediments consist predominately of salty material. This unit borders the right,
(western) bank of the Kalni River below Kadamchal and the Baida Channel, as well as the
floodplain cast of Ajmiriganj. This old surface is being gradually re-worked by the Kalni
River as it shifts through the earlier deposits. The existing Land in this unit is stable and
has not been subject to channel instability or alluvial sedimentation in recent geologic time.
Eastern Surnca-Kushiyara Floodplain
This land lies mainly east of Sherpur, and occupies the relatively higher parts of the project
area. Elevations are typically 10-15 m PWD. The land between the Sumla-Kushiyara River
consists of a low-lying inter-riverine flood basin that is drained by internal khals. Soils in
this unit consist predominately of Non-calcareous Grey Floodplain deposits.
Sylhet Basin
This unit occupies 50% of the study area, and consists mainly of low-lying back swamp
and flood basin land traversed by a maze of distributaries channels and ox-how lakes. The
river channels bordered by natural levees. Virtually all of the land lies below 6 m in
elevation PWD, and is deeply flooded during the monsoon season. The main haors in this
area include the Chanhai, Chaiar, Baram, Tangua, Bhanda, Chaptir and Naluar haors.

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Sediments consist primarily of silt and silty sand on the ridges arid silty clay in the basins.
Extensive deposits of peat have been encountered 3-4 m below the surface on the north
aide of the Kalni River near Sullah.
1.4.6 Soils
Nine general soil types occur in the study area: Non-calcareous dark Grey Floodplain, Non-
calcareous Grey Floodplain and Acid Basin Clays are their major components. Non-
calcareous Dark Grey Floodplain predominates in the southwestern part, Acid Basin Clays
in central-southern part, and Non-calcareous Grey Floodplain in the western, northern, and
eastern parts. Varying proportions of Non-calcareous Alluvium, Peat, Non-calcareous
Brown Floodplain Soils, Grey Piedmont Soils, Brown Hills Soil, and Deep Grey Terrace Soils
occur in the project area.
Soils are relatively uniform. Grey, heavy, silty clay loans, predominate the ridges: with clay
in the basins. Small areas of loamy soils, along with mixed sandy and silty alluvium, occur
alongside rivers. Peat occupies some wet haor centres.
The soil reaction is mainly acidic. 'Topsoil reaction is moderately to very strongly acidic.
Ridge soils have near-neutral subsoils, but upper subsoils in basins are medium to very
strongly acidic. The soil approaches neutrality below about 50 cm.
Organic matter content in the cultivated layer ranges from 0.5-2.5% in most ridge soils
and from 2.0-5.0% in basin soils. The soils that occupy haor centres stay wet for most or
all of the dry season. They generally have 2.0-5.0% organic matter in the cultivated layer.
Fertility level is medium to high with low phosphate.
1.4.7 Land Use/Land Cover
Table 1.4.7 shows the current land-use patterns in the study area. These figures are based
on NERP’s 1995 land-use survey and thana maps compiled from spot imagery (1989-90),
aerial photographs (198384), and topographic maps done by the Local Government
Engineering Department (LGED) in 1994 under a UNDP/ILO project. The land-use survey
was carried out at I0 sample sites, and the information was recorded on mauza maps at a
scale 1:3,960.
Table1.4.7 Land Use Survey
Land Use Area (ha)
Cultivated Laud 279,550
Settle Lela 14,779
Beels 13,340
Rivers 10.780
Calallilels 1 ,250
Ponds 2,466
infrastructure 2,491
Klws/Grass kind 10,6411
Total 335,600

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1.4.8 Surma-Kushiyara River System
The Surma-Kushiyara River system originates from the Barak River in India. The Barak
River drains 25,260 km2
of land in the states of Assam, Manipur and Mizoram and crosses
into Bangladesh near Amalshid. At Amalshid it splits into the northward-flowing Surma
River and the southward-flowing Kushiyara River. Below Amalshid, the river undergoes
several name changes along its course. For convenience, all locations along the river have
been referenced to a chainage. The chainage is measured along the river centerline, and
starts from the BWDB gauge on the Meghna River at Bhairab Bazar. Locations are
referenced in Table 1.4.8.
Table1.4.8 Kushiyara River System
River Name Reference
Chain
age(Km)
(krn)
Extent
Kushiyara 313-163 Amalshid bifurcation to bibiyana offtake near Sherpur
nearnearSherpurSuriya
Channel
((((((((((((((((
((999(((*((Ku
sh(Kushiyaral
adkj
163-133 Bibiyana offtake to Markuli town
Kalni 133-66 Markuli to Ratna/Khowai junction
Dhaleswari 66-20 Ratna River junction to Ghorautra River
confluenceUpper
Meghna
<20 Downstream of Ghorautra River confluence
The Sonai-Bardal River, Juri River and Manu River are the main left bank tributaries
between Amalshid and Sherpur (Throughout this report, left and Right River banks are
when viewing downstream).
Downstream of Sherpur, the Kushiyara River flows in a westerly through the Surya Channel
until reaching Markuli. Before 1978, the Upper Kalni River collected runoff from the Surma-
Kushiyara Inter-basin and drained into the Kushiyara River at Markuli. In 1978, a closure
was constructed across tile Kalni River at Markuli and tile flows from the Interbasin were
diverted into the Darain River system.
Downstream of Markuli, the river is called the Kalni. Tlie Kalni River flows in a southerly
direction until reaching Issapur, where it bifurcates, with the shorter western branch called
the Baida River. The Kalni heads eastward through a series of bends and is joined by the
Ratna/Khowai River near Madna (locally called Dhaleswari River). The Ratna River drains
floodplain land south of Ajtnirigatij, while the Khowai River is a major southward flowing
Piedmont stream that drains the Tripura Hills in India. Downstream of this confluence, the
Kalni River is called the Dhaleswari River. This eastern branch has been gradually silting in,
so that in the dry season most flow now is carried by the Baida channel which rejoins the
Dhaleswari River south of Astagram. The Dhaleswari then joins the Ghorautra/Baulai River
near Dilalpur and forms the Upper Meghna River.
1.4.9 River System Discharge
Discharge on the Kalni-Kushiyara River system is governed by inflows from the Barak River
at Amalshid, tributary inflows (Juri, Manu, Khowai, and Sonai-Bardal), inflows or losses
that occur through distributaries and spill channels and local rainfall drainage from the
study area.
Based on water balance studies, the long-term discharge from the Barak River at Amalshid
iis 1,130 m3
/s, with the flow into tile Kushiyara branch amounting to 656 m3
/s. The mean
daily discharge increases to 1,100 m3
/s at Sherpur, and reaches 1,534 m3
/s in the lower
Dhaleswari River at its junction with the Baulai River. The contribution from the Kalni-
Kusliiyara River amounts to 27% of the total flow in the Upper Meglina River at Bliairab
Bazar.

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1.4.10 River Channel Characteristics
The Kushiyara River flows ill a single, irregularly meandering said-bed channel bordered
by natural levees that reach up to 3 ill above the adjacent flood basins. Channel
dimensions at Sherpur are 240 in wide x 9.1 in deep at bank full stage. Based on
sediment transport measurements in 1995 and 1996, (lie long-term suspended
sediment lead at Sherpur was estimated to be 18 million tonnes/year, of which around
5.4 million tonnes consists of fine sand and coarse silt. The remaining 12.6 million
tonnes/year consists of finer silt and clay-sized sedin-
icnts.
Downstream of Markuli, the Kalni River flows through the low-lying Sylhet Basin and is
controlled by backwater front the Meghna River during the monsoon season. The river
has an irregular channel pattern in this reach, occasionally splitting into single main
channel and a smaller distributary branch. The bed material size decreases abruptly
downstream of Markuli. It becomes much more variable ill composition, ranging from
tide sand w silty sand and sandy silt. During the pre-monsoon season and dry season,
the water surface slope averages around 0.00008 (8 cm/km). Under these conditions,
with low tail water from the Meghna River, the water surface profile exhibits a
characteristic M-2 "drawdown" profile. During floods in the monsoon season, backwater
from the lower Meglina River causes the water surface to become virtually flat. The
entire region is deeply submerged. Hydrodynamic model results show that under these
conditions, most of the flow and fine suspended sediment is carried onto the floodplain.
Field surveys show that this reach undergoes a seasonal pattern of scour and fill, with
a blanket of fine sediment deposited in the main channel in the monsoon season and
degradation occurring during the post-monsoon season, dry season and pre-monsoon
season in response to the steeper water surface slope and increased channel velocities.
Therefore, in spite of the depositional nature of this reach, the river is able to maintain
rough channel equilibrium by two main processes:
• By distributing much of the flow and fine suspended sediment onto the floodplain in
the monsoon season, and
• By scouring out finer channel deposits during periods when the slope is relatively
steep.
Downstream of Madna, the name changes to the Dhaleswari River. The channel has a
split pattern, and adjacent to it are frequent abandoned channels and ox-bow lakes.
The channel cross section enlarges and deepens as it approaches the junction of the
Baulai River near Dilalpur;
1.4.11 Area and Population
The Kalni-Kushiyara River Management Project covers an area of 3,356 km2
and
includes parts of the greater Sylllet and Mymensingh regions. G r e a t e r S y l h e t
a c c o u n t s for as much as 80%, of the total area. The project extends over five
districts within these two regions (Table 1.4.11). It includes Ajmiriganj and Baniachang
thanas in their entirety and parts of 17 other thanas.
According to the latest census, the (Table 1.4.11: study Area and Population)
population was 1,766,338 in 1991. The Study area accounts for 2.27% of the country
area and 1.58% of the population of Bangladesh. The average study area population
density is 526/km2
, much lower than that of the NERD area (707/km2
) or of Bangladesh
(755/Ian=
). The population density decreases from the easterly to the westerly regions.
Though the figures indicate a relatively low population density, in fact large tracts of land
are not suitable Source:

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Estimates based on the 1991 Population or dwelling due to very low elevation. The
Census, 3DS population density on suitable land is one of the highest in the country: -
Table 1.4.11 study Area and Population
Districts Area (%) Population (%)
H a b i g a n j 35.7 34.7
Sylhet 22.2 31.6
S u n a m g o n j 2 2 . 8 1 9 . 0
Kishorgonj 18.9 14.2
Maulavibazar 0.4 0.5
Total 100.0 100.0
Source: Estimates based on the 1991 Population Cencus, BBS
1.4.12 Demographic Characteristics
From 1901 to 1991, with an average annual growth rate of 1.3%, the population more
than tripled. During this period, the national growth rate was 1.51 %. Population growth
was relatively slow in the early part of the century, and then began to experience a more
rapid increase from the 1960s. During the intercensus period 1981-1991 population
increased at an annual rate of 1.8%. According to projections, population in the project
area was 1.89 million in 1995.
1.4.13 Kalni-Kusluyara River Conditions
Each year a tremendous volume of sediment enters the Kalni-Kusliiyara River. As a
result, the Kalni-Kushiyara navigation channel has deteriorated from a class I
perennial navigation route, which it was in the early 1960, to a class IV (LAD <
1.5m) seasonal river route. The river bed contains many shoaled patches.
An examination of the most recent navigation charts produced by the Bangladesh Inland
Waterways Transportation Authority (BIWTA) shows that there is very limited access to
river communities above Ikardia. The communities of Shibpur, Nurpur, Madna and
Adalnpur on the Dhaleswari River are virtually inaccessible during tile dry season due to
river siltation. Indicative LADs are about l m to until Madna, and then 0.6 m in to Adampur.
As a result, through-traffic now takes the Baida channel (western loop), which offers better
depths, or is diverted via the Baulai River and Dhakey Khal (locally called Cherapur Khal) to
the Kalni River above Kanchanpur. The reach above Issapur is reasonably accessible,
although there is a shallow area below Abdullallpur which would limit boats to 1-1.25 m
draughts. The river reach between Kanchanpur and Kadamchal is accessible but
deteriorating, fast due to the Cherapur Khal diversion.
There are many shallow stretches along the river between Kanchanpur and Ajmiriganj
which inhibit navigation during the dry season for anything other than a small country
boat. The river is effectively blocked by a major drying shoal below Manumukh at Km 159,
and there are other limiting shoals at Omarpur as well as just below Fenchuganj. Thus, the
river is not currently navigable to through-traffic during the dry season.

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1.4.14 River Navigation Network
In tire extensive low lying lands of the Kalni-Kushiyara River system area, the waterways
are the backbone of the transportation system. The main river with its many tributaries,
distributaries Khal and haors provides a dense navigation network. The important
connections in this network are identified below:
 Ajmiragonj-Bhairab bazaar/Ashuganj via the Upper Meghna River.
 Ajmiragonj-habiganj via the Old Kushyiyara River, Ratna River and Jhinri Khal.
 Dhanpur-Beramohna (Gudi) River route.
 Chamaraghat Joykolos route via Samarchar
 Chamaraghat-Habigonj route via Dhaka-Kanchanpur Khal
 Kanchanpur-Dhakey khal route
 Khowai River – Dhaleswari River Route.
 Deari-Ajmiragonj route via the Old Suma River
 Derai-markuli via the Old Kalni (Old Surma) River , and
 Sunamgonj-Dhanpur through the Old Surma River.
1.5 Report format
The present report is prepared on the basis of the literature review and questionnaire
survey conducted in the areas of Habiganj, Sylhet, Sunamgonj, Kishoregonj and
Moulavibazar.It is written in eight chapters and contains acknowledgement, table of
content , list of tables, list of figures, abbreviations, acronyms, references and annexure.
As usual chapter starts from introduction, chapter two contains literature review, chapter
three is the description of Tipaimukh dam , chapter four refers to the violation of
international law , chapter five proceeded for methodology , chapter six for Impact
findings, chapter seven for impact of Tipaimukh dam on India and the last one i.e. chapter
eight is for recommendations

CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Impact of Dam

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CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
The literature review was done by studying different journals, books, seminar papers,
reports, magazines, and review of papers etc that focuses on the issues related to the
present topic.
2.2 Impact of Dam
While wide variations occur from site to site, the environmental impacts of dams can
generally fit within two categories: those due to existence of the dam and reservoir; and
those due to the pattern of dam operation (Table2.2.1)
Table: 2.2.1 the chief Environmental Impacts of dams
Impacts due to existence of dam and reservoir
1.Imposition of a reservoir in place of a river valley (loss of habitat)
2. Changes in downstream morphology of riverbed, delta, and coastline due to altered
sediment load (increased erosion).]
3. Changes in downstream water quality: effects on river temperature, nutrient load,
turbidity, dissolved gases, concentration f heavy metals and minerals.
4. Reduction of biodiversity due to blocking of movement of organism (e.g. salmon) &
because of above changes.
Impact due to pattern of dam operation
1.Changes in downstream hydrology:
a) Changes in total flows;
b) Change in seasonal flows (e.g. Spring flood becomes winter flood).
c) Sort-term fluctuation in flows(sometimes hourly);
d) Change in extreme high and low flows.
2. Changes in downstream morphology caused by altered flow pattern.
3. Changes in downstream water quality caused by altered flow pattern.
4. Reduction in reverine/riparine/floodplain habitat diversity, especially because of
elimination of floods.
Dams also have a range of social impacts (see Table 2.2.2). Most importantly, dams have
compelled the relocation of millions of people. For example, it has been estimated that
since tile independence of India, about 14 million people have been displaced by dams and
related construction, such as irrigation canals. Perhaps another 10 million people have
been displaced in China. This, at least, is the government's own figure. Others have
estimated that somewhere between 40 and 60 million Chinese have been relocated.
In the great majority of cases, the economic well-being and health of' those affected have
declined after being relocated. Existing communities have been uprooted, often dispersed,
causing people to lose their social support networks, as well as their livelihoods and ways
of life. For example, when the World Bank looked at projects that it had helped fund, and

12 | P a g e
That involved involuntary resettlement; it found that out of 192 projects examined, the
number of projects in which all of those resettled benefited from the project was exactly
zero. Loss of Community control over water: Dams, as a large-scale, highly sophisticated
technology, typically demand much technical expertise for their operation. This demand for
expertise most often results in their management being taken over by government or
corporate bureaucracies. And as control over resources becomes more centralized,
individuals and communities will tend to lose the control that they once had over the
resources that they once depended on.
Dams can also have range of other human impacts. Various diseases have become more
prevalent, as a direct consequence of dams and related projects. One example is
schistosomiasis, which now affects about 200 million people. Malaria is also becoming
increasingly prevalent, and now affects about 300 million people. Dams create excellent
habitat for water-borne disease parasites responsible for these diseases, i.e. large areas of
standing water created by dam reservoirs or irrigation projects in tropical countries, which
provide a good habitat for the snails that spread schistosomiasis, and the mosquitoes that
spread malaria.
For a variety of reasons, the impacts of dams are often felt disproportionately by women.
Compensation payments to those displaced by projects are most often made to men,
converting the collective assets of families into disposable cash held by the men. Women
are also often most dependent on the common resources that are eliminated by darn
projects. They may also be particularly vulnerable to the social and cultural breakdown that
commonly occurs within communities forced to relocate.
Table 2.2.2 Social and Economic Implication of Dams
Social and Economic Implication of Dams
Relocation of communities:-impact on health & economic, Social, Cultural
well-being.
Loss of community control over water:-Transfer of control from local level to central
government or corporate control.
Diseases:-encouraged by dam project (creating habitats for parasites),
e.g.schistosomiasis mosquitoes.
Increasing cost of Dams:-problems encountered in building dams (e.g. sedimentation).
-cost mitigating social, environmental impacts
-delays
-best sites already taken — only more remote, more difficult sites left.
1. Inflexibility of hydro dams as power source (need to predict electricity demand far in
future).
2. Increasing economic inequalities: disproportionate share of project benefits usually go to
wealthier sectors of society.
3. Important contributor to motional debt
The creation of reservoirs is not without costs and impacts of the
followings:

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 Groundwater effects (Stalinization of the water table)
 Landscape destruction (flooding of' forests and arable land)
 Destruction of fish habitat and fisheries
 Contamination of’ food chain with methyl mercury and other
contaminants
 Increased epidemics (tropical dams)
 Green house
gas pollution
 Changes to climate
 Changes to the global environment: change in speed of
earth's rotation • changes to the shape of the earth's
magnetic field
 Destruction all upstream and downstream ecosystems
 Destruction of deltas and wetlands critical to
migrating wildlife
 Changes to coastal ecology
 Extinction

CHAPTER THREE
PROPOSED TIPAIMUKH DAM
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Description of Tipaimukh Dam
3.2.1 Location
3.2.2 Dimension of the dam
3.2.3 Purpose of the Dam
3.2.4 Area Coverage
3.2.5 Date of completion of the project
3.2.6 Implementing Agencies
3.2.7 Total Cost
3.2.8 People’s Perception Regarding the Tipaimukh Dam in India

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CHAPTER THREE
PROPOSED TIPAIMUKH DAM
3.1 Introduction
The Tipaimukh high dam project has raised a hornet’s nest in an ecologically delicates,
seismo-geologically unstable and socially hypersensitive frontier tract of the country.
Named after a location on the Barak river in the Indian state of Manipur, it has acquired
avoidable notoriety by being the selected site for a major dam designed to bring unmixed
bounties for some of its northeastern states. Originating in his hilly tracts of Mizoram and
continuing between the hills ranges in Manipur, the river emerges in the alluvial plains of
Cachar in Assam –also shared by Bangladesh. Joining the Surma to become part of the
formidable Padma-Meghna system it flows through Bangladesh into the bay of Bengal. As
a matter of fact, the Barak is not a river with a single channel flow, but a river system with
numerous streams joining it – often creating inland deltas – after I emerge from the
Mizoram – Manipur inter-montane valleys in Cachar area.
3.2 Description of Tipaimukh dam
3.2.1
Location: Manipur. 500 meters downstream of the confluence of the Tuivai and
Barak Rivers in the District of Churachandpur in the State of Manipur, near the Assam –
Manipur –Mizoram border. The figure -01 depicts the location of Tipaimukh dam.
Latitude / Longitude: 24°14′N and 93° 1.3′ E.
3.2.2 Dimension of the Dam
Length: 390 m
Height: 162.8 m
Altitude: 180 m above mean sea level
Reservoir level: 178 m
Total area: 30860 ha (required for construction including submergence
area)
3.2.3 Purpose of the dam
╚The dam was originally designed to contain floodwaters in the lower Barak valley.
╚Hydropower generation was later incorporated into the project.
╚The project will have an installation capacity of 6×250=1500 MW and a firm
generation of 412 MW.
3.2.4 Area coverage
The total area required for construction including submergence area is
30860 ha of which
╚ 20,797 ha = forest land
╚ 1,195 ha = village land
╚ 6,160 ha =horticultural land, and
╚ 2,525 ha =agricultural land
Estimation by the authority themselves
As per estimates of the authorities themselves, the project will totally affect 311sq. km
and 8 villages, 1461 Hmar families in all.

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Figure-01 showing the location of Tipaimukh dam.
3.2.5 Date of completion of the project: 2012
3.2.6 Implementing agencies: NEEPCO
3.2.7 Total cost
The project cost as estimated by the NEEPCO is Rs. 5225.70 Crore. It was
reported last year that the revised cost of the project was Rs 6351 crore.

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3.2.8 People’s perception regarding the Tipaimukh dam
in India
The residents of the Indian states concerned who are likely to be displaced
and affected on account of the project has been staging protest and making
representations to their respective state and the union governments, saying that
thousands of people will suffer as the construction of the dam will submerged 73 villages,
many sacred sites and cultivable land and violate their inalienable human rights. The
people of the localities where the dam is proposed to be built have sought constitutional
protection, particularly with view to safeguarding the tribal people, their land, belief,
culture and history. Expressing grave concern over the possible consequences of the dam,
the protestors said in a recent memorandum submitted to the central government of India,
“Once the dam is built, the land, covering an area of 275.5 sq km, will be submerged
permanently”.
A leading Indian researcher, who is attending a national convention on inter-linking of
rivers being held at the auditorium of the Gandhi peace foundation in Delhi under the
auspices of the National Alliance for People’s Movement, has said that the Tipaimukh dam
would spell disaster for Manipur.
Dr Roy Laifungbam, the chief of the Imphal based Center for Organization, Research and
Education, said that the dam would cause a disaster in Manipur while parts of Assam,
particularly its Kachar district would be affected while it would also have a marginal
negative impact on Mizoram. India is set to build the Tipaimukh dam on the tri-junction of
Manipur, Mizoram and Assam, on the river Barak with the declared objective of power
generation. Roy said the entire valley and its cultural sites, ancestral spiritual, and holy
places would go under water denying the people of their cultural roots and identity of
thousands of years. “This will be cultural destruction,” he said. The indigenous people,
rooted to the land, would be displaced, he apprehended. He said that normal life in
Manipur was bound to be completely disrupted by the Tipaimukh dam as about 12,000
square kilometers of Manipur, out of the total area 22,000 square kilometers, forms the
Barak catchments. “What we ask for we do not get, we get we do not want,” he said. The
people of Monipur do not want the dam, as they do not need it, he argued saying that
Mnipur does not have industries to need such a big hydro project. Rather, he said, the
people of Manipur need micro projects that would generate employment and solve their
problems. But over the last 55 years the demand of the people remained unmet for the
last 55 years, he said.
Aizwal, Dec 6:the public hearing conducted by the Mizoram pollution control board last
week over Tipaimukh dam project has not gone in favour of the dam as the people to be
affected have strongly objected to it. The MPCB, in a report about the hearing, bluntly
stated that people and organizations that attended the hearing objected to the dam.
Secretary of the board, when contacted today, said the people to be affected by the dam
on the Mizoram side were not satisfied with the rehabilitation and implementing agency,
NEEPCO and could not, therefore, agree to the dam coming up. “the affected people and
the organizations who came for the public hearing were not satisfied with NEEPCO’s plans
for their rehabilitation and compensation. They also said they wanted free power as well
for which NEEPCO did not seem to have an answer, Lalduhawma, the MPCB secretary,
said.
The repot stated that in view of the objections voiced by the people, it was difficult to
come to a conclusion. “The discussion made at the hearing was that a workable
compromise be arrived at a meeting of the three parties involved-the people living in the
affected area. In the government of Mizoram and NEEPCO,” the report said.

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One interested party, which came for the hearing was the Human Rights Network of
Indigenous People North East Chapter who vehemently opposed to the dam saying it was
in contravention to the Indian Constitution where tribal and their lands were protected.
They said they can never agree to projects where the rights of the people are violated and
would rather forego development if these tights are to be ignored. Latest information on
the proposed dam has it that no public hearing has yet been initiated on the Manipur side
which 90 percent of the project would affect. In any case, there has been opposition from
the people on the Manipur said for the Rs 5163 crore, 1500 MW project right from the
onset and a public hearing in manipur would also arrive at the same conclusion as it did in
Mizoram.
K.Hawla Sailo, secretary of the Human Rights Network of Indigenous People NE Chapter
said they would oppose any development in the North East that would adversely affect the
indigenous people. he said today that the norms being applied for development projects,
specially hydroelectricity, at the national and central government level does not take into
account Article 46 of the Indian constitution which seeks to “protect (the weaker sections
of the people) from social injustice and all forms of exploitations”.
“The central government needs to change the norms that have overall application totally
do not take into account the safeguards provided to scheduled castes and by the
constitution” he said.

CHAPTER FOUR
PROPOSED TIPAIMUKH DAM: VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL
LAW
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Violation of UN Water Course Convention
4.3 Violation of World Bank Environmental Policy

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CHAPTER FOUR
PROPOSED TIPAIMUKH DAM: VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL
LAW
4.1 Introduction
The Tipaimukh Dam project was entirely developed and approved without once informing
the government of Bangladesh or involving its people in any meaningful exercise to assess
the downstream impacts of the Dam. This is clearly a gross violation of co-riparian
rights of Bangladesh.
4.2 Violation of UN Water Course Convention 1997
The 1997 UN Watercourse Convention is the only convention of a universal character on
utilization of the international watercourses (MaCaffrey and Sinjela, 1998).It was
negotiated by almost every member of the international community including Bangladesh
and India and was adopted by a very weighty majority of States. The convention sets forth
the general principles and rules governing non-navigational uses of international
watercourses in the absence of specific agreements among the States concerned and
provides guidelines for the negotiation of future agreements (UN press Release, GA/9248).
India has even disregarded some major provisions of the 1997 UN Watercourse
Convention (Islam, M.N; 1999) which are mentioned below:
 Equitable Utilization: Article 5(1) of the convention requires an international
watercourse to be utilized in an ‘equitable and reasonable manner’. The objectives
are to attain ‘Optimal and sustainable utilization’ as well as to ensure ‘adequate
protection of the watercourse’. While achieving these objectives, according to
Article 6(1), conservation protection, development and economy of use of the
water resources have to be taken into account. The incorporation of conservation
aspects enjoins the watercourse states with greater responsibility, which the
negotiating states considered appropriate in view of the recent development of
international environmental law (UN GAOR, 51st
Session, Sixth Committee;
Summary record of the 24th
meeting, 17/10/96,p-04).
 No - harm principle: While addressing the obligation of no harm and its
relationship with equitable utilization, the 1997 Convention puts significant
emphasis on relevant procedural duties. Article 7 of the Convention requires a
watercourse state to take all appropriate measures to prevent causing of
significant harm to other watercourse States. If significant harm, however, is
caused, Article 7 requires the state causing such harm to give due regard to
Article 5 and 6 and to consult the affected State in order to eliminate or mitigate
such harm and to discuss the question of compensation in appropriate cases.
 Exchange of information: Article 9 provides for regular exchange of data and
information on the condition of a watercourse. The purpose is to ensure that the
watercourse states will have the facts necessary to enable them to comply with
their obligation under Article 5, 6 and 7 (ILC Report, 1994; p-250).
4.3 Violation of World Bank Environmental Policy
Except in specified circumstances, the WB policy doesn’t allow financing of a project on an
international waterway until
╚ All the riparian are notified of the project and
╚Have voiced no objection.
But till now the people of lower riparian country like Bangladesh has the objection
regarding the Tipaimukh Dam.

CHAPTER FIVE
METHODOLOGY
5.1 Outline of Methodology
5.1.1 Techniques
5.1.2 Tools
5.1.3 Data analyses, Report writing and Presentation
5.2 The flow-chart of the methodology

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CHAPTER FIVE
METHODOLOGY
Methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem. It may be understood
as a science of studying how research is done scientifically. An appropriate methodology is
obviously needed for solving each problem. It provides help to organize the scattered
views of different resource persons, information and steps required for fulfilling the
objectives. Sequentially proper working procedure helps to capture the right things at right
periods and finally fulfill the objectives. It also provides the prevention and hap hazards
condition.
5.1 Outline of Methodology
The methodology of this study includes several techniques (Literature Review ,
Unstructured-Semi structured Interview, Structured and In-depth Interview, Focus Group
Discussions , Case Study, Quantitative Data Collection , Data Analysis, Report writing and
Presentation. . Several Tools like checklists, structured questionnaire, satellite image etc
have utilized for the above mentioned techniques.
Outline of Methodology
Techniques
Conceptualization and literature review
Research model construction
Unstructured-Semi structured interview
Structured and In-depth interview
Focus group discussions (FGDs)
Case study
Quantitative data collection
Tools
Checklists
Structured questionnaire
Satellite image
Software
Data Analysis, Report writing and Presentation
5.1.1 Techniques
1. Conceptualization and Literature Review
The term conceptualization refers to develop a clear concept about the study i.e. what is to
be done in the study. It developed by communication with the resource persons, and
literature review would be made by studying different journals, books, seminar papers,
reports, magazines, and review of papers etc that focuses on the issues related to the
present topic.
2. Research Model Construction
Forrester (1999) defined a model as a substitute of any object or system. The research
model is a mental image used in thinking and it Was not the real system. After setting the
objectives of the study to reach the terminate point, a mental model has made that was
the setting of thinking for achieving the goal of the study sequentially.
3. Unstructured-Semi structured Interview
Unstructured-Semi structured interview was done by a flexibility of approach to
questioning. The interviews did not follow a system of pre-determined questions and
standardized techniques of recording information. The researcher was allowed to have

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greater freedom to ask, in case of need, supplementary questions or at times the
interviewer omitted certain questions if the situation so requires. He even changed the
sequence of questions.
4. Structured and In-depth Interview
This session was conducted by the use of a set of pre-determined questions and of highly
standardized techniques of recording. A rigid procedure laid down, asking questions in a
form and ordered prescribed,
5. Focus Group Discussions(FGDs)
During FGDs, interviews were held with the people selected randomly from different
occupations. With the help of questionnaire, questions and quarries was made for
collection of necessary data and information on positive and negative impacts of Tipaimukh
Dam on environment and livelihood of the people of the project area. The FGDs was done
with the people of Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, and Sunamganj. Water and
environmental experts, lawyers and other elites were interviewed for collection of
qualitative data and information.
6. Case Study
A few (2-3) of case study relevant to the topic were conducted.
7. Quantitative Data Collection
Quantitave data were collected from the relevant organizations like Bangladesh Water
Development Board (BWDB), Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), The
World Conservation Union (IUCN), Bureau of Disaster Management and Relief (BDMR),
Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), Institute of Water
Modeling (IWM), Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh
Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI),
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Surface Water Modeling Centre (SWMC)
and others as per required.
5.1.2: Tools
1. Checklists
A basic format of information (checklists) was prepared for structured questionnaire.
2. Structured Questionnaire
A structured, ordered questionnaire was prepared to conduct the structured interview, in-
depth interview and FGDs.
3. Satellite Image and Digital Map
Satellite image and digital map were utilized-
For finding out the location of the Tipaimukh Dam
 For finding out the Surma-Kushiara river system through Bangladesh and to determine
the more vulnerable area of Surma-Kushiara catchments region.
4. Software
Several software were used to fulfill the objectives of the study, which are –Arc View 3.2,
Image Analyzed 1.0, MS Word, MS Excel and SPSS.
5.1.3 Data analyses, Report writing and Presentation
All the collected data and information have compiled, analyzed and interpreted using
different statistical formulae. Negative impacts of Tipaimukh Dam have assessed on
environmental and socio-economical conditions of the people of the region. The relevant
information has presented into tabular forms and important and interesting ones have

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depicted in graphs and figures. On the basis of the analyses of data and information,
conclusions and recommendations have made.
5.2 The flow chart of the methodology
The flow chart of the methodology
Conceptualization
and
Literature review
Research Model
Construction
CEGIS, BWDB, Impact type Unstructured-Semi
LGED, IUCN, Identification structured and structured
BELA, IWFM, interview, FGDs,
BARC, BRRI etc.
Data collection
Secondary Data Primary Data
Data isolation &
Recombination
Data Analyses
Data presentation in graphical &
Tabular form finally, report writing
Recommendations

CHAPTER SIX
IMPACTS OF PROPOSED TIPAIMUKH DAM
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Impact on Hydrology
6.2.1 Introduction
6.2.1.1 Flood
6.2.1.2 Siltation
6.3 Impact on Agriculture
6.3.1 Introduction
6.3.2 Decrease in agricultural land
6.3.3 Change in cropping areas for different harvests and reduction in yields of
agricultural crops
6.3.4 Decrease in natural fertility ands productivity of agricultural lands
6.3.5 Decrease in siltation over the agricultural lands
6.3.6 Decrease in pasture land and fodder
6.3.7 Reduction in agro-industries
6.3.8 Unemployment of agricultural sector
6.4 Impacts on Fisheries
6.5 Impacts on Socio-economy
6.5.1 Decrease in employment opportunity in agricultural sector
6.5.2 Decrease in income of the farmers
6.5.3 Change in occupation
6.6 Impacts on environment
6.6.1 Physical and chemical environment
6.6.2 Biological Environment
6.6.3 Cultural environment
6.6.4 Socio-economic environment
6.7 Experts views regarding the Tipaimukh Dam

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Sectors and the percentage of the
respondents incase of the negative
impacts
57
100
63
10100
90
100 Hydrology
Agriculture
Fisheries
Health
Socio economy
Brick field
Environment
CHAPTER SIX
IMPACTS OF PROPOSED TIPAIMUKH DAM
6.1 Introduction
Questionnaire survey was carried out among the people of sylhet, Habiganj, Sunamganj,
Kishoregonj and Moulovibazar who would be affected vastly due to the creation of
Tipaimukh dam. Interviews were held with 50 farmers, 20 fishermen and 30 people of
different occupations to collect data and information. To identify the plausible impact of
Tipaimukh dam data and information were collected on the agricultural, fisheries, brick
field and socio economic conditions of the people of the surroundings regions. Most of the
respondent thinks that it would have a vast vegetative impact on the environment and
livelihood in Bangladesh.
Sectors and the percentage of the respondents incase of the negative impacts may be
happened of the proposed Tipaimukh dam are shown by the following table-6.1.
Table 6.1: Sectors and the percentage of the respondents incase of the negative impacts
SERIAL NO. SECTORS PERCENTAGE OF THE
RESPONDENTS
1 Hydrology 57
2 Agriculture 100
3 Fisheries 63
4 Health 10
5 Socio economy 100
6 Brick field 90
7 Environment 100
Source: Field survey 2005
Figure 6.1: Sectors and the percentage of the respondent’s incase of the negative
impacts

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6.2 Impact on Hydrology
6.2.1 Introduction
The proposed dam would be subject to severe hydrological impact due to the lack of water
flow through the river system in Bangladesh. Water level in the hand tube wells, shallow
tube wells and ponds would be lower than the present.
Among the respondents 57% reported the negative impacts on hydrology would be
happened. They told that there would not have any positive impacts in Bangladesh due to
the creation of this dam. Most of the respondents told that they are awarded about the
dam and they think that due to the creation of dam India will get benefit which spell
disaster for them.
The respondents, who reported the negative impacts, were asked the question; in what
spheres of the hydrological sector the negative impacts of the dam would be observed?
The percentage of respondents’ in case of the negative impacts on hydrology is shown in
table-6.2.1.
Table 6.2.1: The percentage of respondents’ in case of the negative impacts on hydrology
Serial
No.
Area of negative impact % of respondents
1 Flood during rainy season 85
2 Lack of water flow in dry season (siltation) 100
Source: Field survey 2005
6.2.1.1 Flood
Among the respondents 85% reported the occurrence of flood in the months of the July-
September every year would be happened as because during the rainy season India will
not block the water. So in that time, water flow/amount of water would be more than the
river system of this region can contain. So over flow would be higher year b year. As a
result flood would be a must phenomenon.
6.2.1.2 Siltation
Due to the decrease in the intensity /flow of water flow in the river of the study area, the
river will be under desertification process like northern part of the country due to the
increase in siltation process.
6.3 Impact on Agriculture
6.3.1 Introduction
Earlier it is mentioned that 100% of the respondent reported the negative impacts of the
Tipaimukh dam that would be happened. To collect data and information and to assess the
negative impacts, the respondents who reported the negative impacts, were asked the
questions:
“In what spheres of the agricultural sector, the negative impacts due to the creation of the
Tipaimukh dam would be observed?” The percentage of respondents in favor of the
negative impacts on agriculture is shown in table-6.3.1.

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The percentage of the respondents
in case of the negative impacts
of dam on agriculture
98
100
98
98
100100
88
40
100
98
40
Decrease in agricultural
lands
Change in cropping
areas for difference
harvest and reduction in
yields of agricultural
crops
Decrease in natural
fertility and productivity
of
Decrease in siltation
over the agricultural
lands
Decrease in pasture
lands and fodder
Growth of weeds and
aquatic plants
Problems in preparation
of seeds beds
Reduction in agro-
industries
Death of trees
Unemployed in
agricultural sector
Migration and
resettlement
Table 6.3.1: The percentage of the respondents in case of the negative impacts on
agriculture if proposed dam is built.
Serial
no
Area of negative Percentage* of
respondents
1 Decrease in agricultural lands 98
2 Change in cropping areas for difference
harvest and reduction in yields of agricultural
crops
100
3 Decrease in natural fertility and productivity of
Agricultural lands
98
4 Decrease in siltation over the agricultural lands 98
5 Decrease in pasture lands and fodder 100
6 Growth of weeds and aquatic plants 100
7 Problems in preparation of seeds beds 88
8 Reduction in agro-industries 40
9 Death of trees 100
10 Unemployed in agricultural sector 98
11 Migration and resettlement 40
Figure 6.3.1: The percentage of the respondents in case of the negative impacts of dam
on agriculture.
Agricultural lands

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6.3.2 Decrease in agricultural land
Most of the respondent reported that most of the area of the north eastern part of the
country would be affected with the creation of this dam respectively for the month of July-
December and January-June. The net cropping area would be take place the drainage
congestion will take lace and cultivable areas of lands will decrease within a few years.
6.3.3 Change in cropping areas for different harvests and reduction
in yields of agricultural crops
All of the respondent reported the change in cropping areas for harvests and reduction in
agricultural yields would be happened due to Tipaimukh dam.
6.3.4 Decrease in natural fertility ands productivity of agricultural
lands
Among the respondents 98% reported that in natural fertility ands productivity of
agricultural lands will decrease.
6.3.5 Decrease in siltation over the agricultural lands
Among the respondents 98% think that siltation over their agricultural lands will decrease
due to lack of water flow. 80% of the respondent’s opinioned that the yields of agricultural
crops would be significantly reduced due to non-siltation of their lands after the creation of
Tipaimukh dam.
6.3.6 Decrease in pasture land and fodder
All of the respondents reported that the pasture lands and fodder for their cattle will
decrease. The reason for the decrease in pasture lands can be attributed to drainage
congestion and sudden floods reported by 94% and 52% of the respondents.
The respondents reported that they will have face to problems with their cattle due to
shortage of fodder. They reported that the causes of shortage of fodder could be
attributed to decrease of pasture lands reported by 97%, the shortage and increase in
value of straw, huks, bran etc. due to decrease of production of rice wheat, gram, pulses
etc reported by 96%, shortage in production of mustard and increase in value of oil-cake
reported by 93% of the respondents.
6.3.7 Reduction in agro-industries
Among the reporters, 40% reported agro industries due to lack of yields will decrease.
6.3.8 Unemployment of agricultural sector
According to 98% of the respondents, unemployment problems would have increase in the
agricultural sector after the creation of the Tipaimukh dam. Regarding the causes of
increase of unemployment in the agricultural sector, the respondent opinioned that the
farmers/house holders would economically insolvent, as they will not be able to cultivate
their lands properly. As a result their yields will be reduced.
The farmers will no be able to cultivate their lands due to the unavailability of water and
the high cost for irrigation purpose reported by 87% of the respondents.

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6.4 Impacts on Fisheries
Among the respondents 63% reported the negative impacts of Tipaimukh dam in fisheries
sector of the region. The respondents who were in favor of the negative impacts were
asked the question: “In what spheres of the fisheries sector the negative impacts of
Tipaimukh dam would be observed?”
All of the respondents informed that due to the decrease in the water flow and water
bodies, obviously the fisheries productions would be less. Some of the respondents
reported that the fish diseases due to drainage congestion that may be happened if the
proposed dam is built. The fishes would be generally attacked with diseases (locally called
cancer) if the reduction of flow exists.
6.5 Impacts on Socio-economy
Impact of an existing or a new situation, developed by either natural process or artificial
interventions, on socio-economical conditions of a specified area, region or country and its
population can be evaluated by some drivers on indications. In the very recently
formulated National Water Management Plan (NWMP, 2001) the main social and
economical imperatives that have been taken into consideration are: population growth,
urbanization, poverty alleviation, economic growth and development, employment
generation, education and public health, food security agricultural land availability water
availability for irrigation. Institute of Flood control and Drainage Research (IFCDR, 1992)
used four indications for the assessment of socio-economical conditions in size flood
control, drainage and irrigation project in Bangladesh. The indications were: House hold
situation (annual house hold income,occupation,education),level of living standard
(housing condition ,latrine condition, drinking water source ,health care facilities),land
holding and tenancy (land ownership and farm size, land tenure system),and institutional
Participation.
Considering the importance and relevance of the above indications to the present study as
well as the case of field data collection through questionnaire survey of local people,
Plausible Impact of the Tipaimukh dam which is going to be constructed has been
assessed by evaluating the following indications:
 Employment and income of farmers and fishermen
 Infrastructural conditions
 Level of education
 Living and land ownership of the people and
 Occupation of the people of the study area.
The land people of the study area were interviewed about their thinking related to the
plausible impact of the Tipaimukh dam on socio-economical conditions of the people of the
study area.
100% of the respondents reported the negative impacts of dam on socio-economical
conditions of the people of the region. To collect more data and information the
respondent’s incase of negative impacts were asked the question:
“In what spheres of the socio-economical sector the negative impacts of the proposed
dam would be observed?”.
The percentage of the respondents of the negative impacts on socio-economy is shown by
the Table No. 6.5.

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Table 6.5: The percentage of the respondents in case of the negative impacts of the
proposed dam on socio-economy of the region
Serial
no
Area of negative Percentage*
of
respondents
1 Decrease in employment opportunity in agricultural
sector
100
2 Decrease in income of the farmer 100
3 Damage of homes and other institution 100
4 Change in occupation 96
5 Difficulties in schooling of the children 100
6 Change in land ownership 94
7 Change in living standard 100
* Multiple responses were considered
6.5.1 Decrease in employment opportunity in agricultural sector
100% of the people interviewed reported that the land area would be affected by the
creation of Tipaimukh dam. So net crop area would be decreased and the yields of the
agricultural crops also would be less. Thus, the farmers will be economically insolvent and
will not be able to employ required number of laborers in their agricultural activities for
cultivating, harrowing and harvesting. So the employment opportunity will decrease of the
region.
6.5.2 Decrease in income of the farmers
All of the respondents reported that the income of the farmers will decrease. The net crop
area will be decrease after the creation of Tipaimukh dam and the yields of the agricultural
crops also would be decrease as because decrease in natural fertility and productivity of
agricultural lands would be happened. The income of the farmers will decrease
significantly.
6.5.3 Change in occupation
96% of the respondents reported the Change in occupation would be happened due to the
creation of the Tipaimukh dam. Due to the creation of the Tipaimukh dam, the net crop
land area would be decreased; the yields of the agricultural crops also would be
decreased. Consequently, the farmer will become poorer. So, some of the poor farmers will
change the farming profession and will accept the others.
6.6 Impacts on environment
There is a realization that hydroelectric power projects are not as clean as they were
normally considered to be world over. They cause many adverse environmental and social
impacts. A major conflict arises between development and biodiversity conservation when
projects are located in the wilderness area because such projects impact upon prevailing
patterns of allocation of land and resources to people and interface with various forestry
and wildlife conservation objectives. The plausible environmental impacts may be
happened if the proposed dam is built are mentioned in a nutshell below:
6.6.1 Physical and chemical environment
a) Changes in the micro-climate: The change in the climate condition of the project
site. The sitting of flowing waters leading to temperature stratification.

28 | P a g e
b) Landslides and soil erosion: The project activities leave the eco-imp0act features of
instability in the form of landslides and soil erosion, violent disturbance of pristine
areas.
c) Variation in water table: Mostly the water table increased in an around the dam
sites. Varying degrees of submergence of land including forests in some cases.
d) Instability of geo-physical landscapes: Changes in the landform of the project
areas.
e) Siltration and nutrients variation: Eroded soil filled up the reservoir after some time.
Variations in nutrient contents and dissolved oxygen, rendering the water
inhospitable to aquatic life.
f) Decrease flow-rate of the river down stream- Affects aquatic life and riparian
communities, reduced capacity for self regeneration, reduced recharge of ground-
water aquifers, enhanced pollution levels etc.
g) Submergence of land: Submergence due to construction of hydroelectric
generation is the step through which fragile land topography, many delicate plants,
faunal population and tiny living organisms such as butterflies have to suffer a
great loss.
h) Air pollution: construction accelerates the rate of suspended particulate mater
(SPM) and dust.
i) Solid waste problem: As the human activities increase in and around the sites of
hydropower projects, waste products also increase if there is a lack of adequate
infrastructure to deal with.
(j) In the hilly tract, blasting operation for road construction can cause considerable
damage to the environment through loosing of sedimentary layers and joints of
rocks and resultant landslide, sediment of reservoirs, drying up of spring flash
floods etc.
(k) The creation of new settlement for the workmen and rehabilitation of project
ousters in the watershed areas may aggravate the seriousness of advance impacts.
(l) Seismic activity: Enhance seismic activities due to pressure of water. The huge
amount of water reservoir cause tremendous pressure to the earth region and the
Tibetan plateau region, having hazard levels of the order of 0.25g with prominent
highs of the order of 0.35-0.4g in the seismically active zones of the Burmese
arc.Northestern India and North-west Himalaya/Hindukush region and is included in
the Zone V.A major earthquake rocked Manipur-Myanmar border in the year August
6,1988 at the epicenter of lat.25.130 and long 95.150 and at a magnitude of 6.6
Richter Scale.
6.6.2 Biological Environment
a Loss of Vegetable cover: Removal of the plants from the project site, reduction in
bio-diversity.
b Decease in the faunal Species: The disturbance caused in the nature, mainly due to
excessive habitats of the wildlife in the surrounding areas. Severe impacts on the
fish population in the river.
c Deforestation: Cutting of fuel woods for energy and construction.
d Threat to medicinal plants due to submergence, disturbance, destabilization, and
degration of land. Soil erosion and floods in and around the dam site has its indirect
influence on plant.
6.6.3 Cultural environment
a Dislocation of people: Shifting of people from their original village to another.
b Destruction of immovable property: Destruction of houses, farms etc.

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6.6.4 Socio-economic environment
a Problems of host communities such compensation, employment, road construction,
drinking water, afforestation to compensate the loss resulted due to the
development works.
b Public agitations: Due to misunderstanding between the host communities and the
managing authorities cause campaigns and strikes against the authorities to make
agree the project proponents to meet their demands. All these reactions of
resentment ultimately affect production rates and its growth, ultimately hampering
the growth of the country.
c Irrigation from hydro-power projects has numerous impacts, on forest and wildlife
directly or indirectly, thus affecting the socio-economic condition of the host
communities.
d Multi-pupose projects often have only two components namely, irrigation and
Hydroelectric power. The integration of other purpose has not been a standard
feature of project planning.
e Project-affected persons with the assistance of NGO have become more conscious
of their rights both their fundamental rights as citizens and their traditional rights
of use of rivers waters, forest produce and other natural resources.
f The Tipaimukh area is ecologically sensitive and topographically fragile. Some of
these negative effects cannot be remedied or even mitigated; and in some causes
efforts to mitigate or compensate for environmental impacts in turn will create
further problems.
6.7 Experts views regarding the Tipaimukh Dam
Experts views regarding the issue we collected with the help of the interview/ consultation
with them which are tabulated by the following table:
Table 6.7 Experts views regarding the Tipaimukh Dam
Name and address Comments and views
Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam,
Associate Professor
Department of Law
University of Dhaka.
Bangladesh.
If India and Bangladesh take any project related to flood
management , irrigation , water management whatever in
erms of any joint river system then each country has the
obligation to inform other country and they have to conduct
a jin study and that project would be undertaken for the
welfare and for the benefit of the people of both countries.
In 1996, Ganges River Treaty, although the treaty was
basically concerning the apportionment of Ganges water
that treaty also contain a provision and in that provision it
was clearly written that India and Bangladesh will utilize the
waters of other common rivers on the basis of three
principles: Equity, no harm and fairness. This was
treaty obligation.So if India unilaterally underake any project
that go against article 9 of 1996. Incase of Tipaimukh dam ,
international customary law is not written anywhere but
there are some evidences of customary law.One of the
major evidences of internatioomnal customary law is law
making treaty .as for example 1997 UN Water Course
Convention.The UN Water Course Convention has every
reason to be considered as a law making teaties. If India
undertake the Tipaimukh project that would go against the

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1997 UN Water Course Convention. If we looked at the
1997 Water Course Convention we find three major
obligations which are written there-
Equitable sharing, no harm principle and exchange of
information. So if India undertake the Tipaimukh dam
project that would go against the International Customary
Law as well.
If India unilaterally underake any project in relation to
many common rivers , India has two sets of obligations-
Substantive obligation and procedural obligation.
Substantive obligation is India has to ensure tha project
(what India is undertaking) an that utilization which is
being vary by that project. That utilization is equitable and
by undertaking that project India is not causing any serious
harm to the economy and environment of Bangladesh. And
the second one is India has to notify Bangladesh that we
are going to undertake the project and India ha to take in
consideration any suggestions coming from Bangladesh and
accordingly India has to prospond the project , modify the
project or cancelled the project –which is termed as
procedural obligation.
Dr. Sudhirendar
Sharma
Staff,
The New Delhi
Ecological Foundation
India.
According to him, due to the creation of Tipaimukh dam, not
only Bangladesh India will be affected and it would have
vast negative impacts on environment and livelihood in
India.
Dr. Zahurul Islam
Professor,
Institute of Water and
Flood Management
(IWFM), BUET.
Bangladesh.
He says, the Tipaimukh dam would have severe impact on
Bangladesh environment. The following may be the effects:
# Change in morphology of north-eastern region of the
country (morphology of the riverbed and banks, delta,
estuary and coastline) would be happened if the dam is
built.
# Change in water quality: effects on river temperature,
nutrient load, turbidity, dissolve gases……..
#Reduction of bio-diversity.
AKM Shamsul Haque
X- chairman
Bangladesh Water
Development Board
(BWDB)
Bangladesh.
It would have negative impacts on flora and fauna and
specially on fisheries also. Negative impacts may have on
brick field also.
Nazmul Haque
President
Sylhet Disater Forum,
Sylhet, Bangladesh.
He says, already, at present, Surma and Kushiyara river is
not getting sufficient water. So if it is done, it would be a
welcome for another desertification process for north-
eastern part of the country.

CHAPTER SEVEN
IMPACT OF TIPAIMUKH DAM ON INDIA AND GO, NGO
VIEWS
7.1 Impacts at a glance: Merits and Demerits
7.2 Regions to be affected
7.3 GO and NGO stand
7.4 Submission of Memoranda

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CHAPTER SEVEN
IMPACT OF TIPAIMUKH DAM ON INDIA AND GO, NGO
VIEWS
7.1 Impacts at a glance: Merits and Demerits
MERITS
(i) Manipur will get power of 182 MW free of cost, which is 12% of 1500
MW.
(ii) A power of 1500 MW will be generated.
(iii) The flood in Char valley be controlled.
(iv) Navigation will be developed in Manipur.
(v) Township will come up in the Dam site.
(vi) NEEPCO will earn crores of Rupees.
(vii) Assam will develop more irrigated land through the construction of
canals.
(viii) The sufficiency of electric power will solve the problem of industries and
factories.
(ix) Fishing facilities will be improved tremendously.
(x) Unemployment problem will be solved to some extend.
(xi) State Income will be rose by opening tourist center.
(xii) Every affected household will get a rehabilitation of Rs. 1,500 per month
for 1 year plus Rs. 5000/- of displacement/ transportation grant.
The following are the losses and destruction because of the dam especially in
Zeliangrong areas: -
(i) A total area of land 288.60 sp. km. will be submerged.
(ii) Barak waterfalls and Zeilad lakes which are connected with the history of
the local people will be forever submerged and all folklore and legend
will have no monuments, proof and it will become a make up story for
the next generation.
(iii) More than 40,000 people will be rendered landless.
(iv) 16 villages situated at the Barak Valley will be completely under water.
(v) More than 90 villages mostly of Tamenglong District will be adversely
affected.
(vi) About 27. 242 hectares of cultivable land will be lost.
(vii) The township of Nungba Sub-Division Hqs and the village along the NG-
53 will be severely affected.
(viii) The Dam will bring health hazard, water borne diseases, industrial
pollution and many other environmental and ecological problems due to
increase of water surface.
(ix) Increase in salinity of ground water will be unsafe for drinking thereby
causing allots of problem to the people.
(x) Possibility of frequent occurrence of destructive earthquake in the area.
(xi) Influx of outsiders will create social problem.
(xii) The decision was taken without a proper ecological study. Such will
create a big trouble in the future to the people.

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DEMERITS
(xiii) The construction of dam directly affected the livelihood of the people.
The natural product which the people depend for every aspect of their
economy will be totally cur off so there will be economic and financial
crisis.
(xiv) Consequent displacement and destruction of the people by
implementing the project will pose a grave threat to the vibrant
democratic system of people’s right to live.
(xv) The project once installed will submerge the exotic flora and fauna and
rich gene pools as Manipur falls under one of the genetic hot spot zones
of the world where rare biodiversity resources exist.
(xvi) There will be problem in displacement, resettlement, rehabilitation,
reparation and development issues.
(xvii) The construction of dam will be a violation of our Fundamental Rights to
live in any part of India. And Right to protect our land as a Naga.
(xviii) It is a total disregard of our Zeliangrong ancient indigenous heritage and
it is a partiality action of the Government.
(xix) Not only the basin of Barak will be affected, it will also be affected to its
tributaries.
(xx) Our livelihood will be under the mercy of the outsiders.
7.2 Regions to be affected
Tributary- wise submergence area in the reservoir area of Tipaimukh H.E.
(Multipurpose) Project and Land use Pattern in the submergence Area are given by
the following (table-7.2.1 and 7.2.2) tables:
Table: 7.2.1 Tributary- wise submergence areas
Sl.
No.
River Submergence area in sq. km.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Barak
Tuivai
Irang
Makree
Total
Manipur Mizoram
EL 175
178.50
13.00
53.00
31.00
275.50
EL 180
184.46
13.40
61.80
33.90
293.56
EL 175
Nil
16.18
Nil
Nil
16.18
EL 180
Nil
17.44
Nil
Nil
17.44
Table: 7.2.2 Land use Pattern in the submergence Area.
Sl.
No.
River Submergence area in sq. km.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Forest Land
Village Land
Garden Land
WRC Land
Pond Area
Total
Manipur Mizoram
217.02
20.45
40.60
15.20
0.29
293.56
12.09
--
2.92
2.41
0.02
17.44
WRC = Wet Rice Cultivation.

33 | P a g e
Submergence of existing roads in the Reservoir Area
The spread of submergence area is likely to affect the following important roads
highways-
(a) NH-53 connecting Silchar and imphal and bridge over the Barak and
Makru River.
(b) Border road- connecting Churachandpur- Aizwal at the Project area
over river Tuivai.
Table 7.2.3 Name of the regions to be affected
Sl. No. Name of Region Tribe Remarks Name of Dist.
1. Vanchingthai Hmar Partially
Tamenglong
2. Bamgaijang Rongmei Partially
3. New Thiulon rongmei Partially
4. Taijijang Rongmei Partially
5. Seikjang Kuki Submerged
6. New Chingkao Rongmei Partially
7. Hmarkhawpui Hmar Submerged
Churachandpur
8. Sitam Hmar Submerged
Table 7.2.4 Present level of affected Bridges in Tipaimukh reservoir area
Sl. No Location of Bridge River Present Level
1. Upper Barak catchment Barak 126.9
2. Makru catchment Makru 112.2
3. Low leve bridge at the
interface of Tuivai and
sewak Project.
Tuivai N.A.
7.3 GO and NGO stand
Although there has been so many disadvantages of the Dam. The Government is
trying to convince the people by showing only the good points. The Government
policy is to construct the dam. Various meeting had been organized with the public
leaders to make them understand about the real benefits of the dam. Shri N.
Shyamsunder Singh, SE. Electricity Department, Government of Manipur stressed
the need of power development projects for Manipur as the state lacks in other
resources for development. He highlighted that per capita consumption of
Electricity is an index of development of any country. But he stated that per capita
consumption of electricity in Manipur in very much less and below the national
average. Likewise Prof. N. Mohendro Singh, Manipur University, Members State
Planning Board, Manipur, Shri Nath, Executive Director (C) NEEPCO, Shri PBO.
Varji Principal Secy. (Power) Government of Manipur and others, also stressed the
needs of power in the state. Therefore, they are (government) trying to construct
the Dam without people consent.
Aware of the above negatively impacts, various organitions of Manipur (specially of
Nagas) have been protesting against the proposed Tipaimukh Dam since the last
few years. Different from of agitations such as, public rellies, sit-in- protest,
signature campaign, bandh call etc. had been organised from time to time with the
submission of memoranda to the concern authorities. However, Government of

34 | P a g e
Manipur and the NEEPCO or the Central Government are dump and blind to the
people’s complaint and they are going ahead with the signing of Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) recently on the proposed Dam.
Therefore, the committee Against Tipaimukh Dam (CATD) was formed and they
played a great role for the sake of the people. They also resolved to continue the
movement until the MoU is revoked and finally the proposed is dropped in the
interest of the general public of Manipur.
Zeliangrong people are more concerned in this issue, because most of the
affected areas are in Zeliangrong area. On the proposed Dam there was a meeting
on April 16-17, 2002 at Zeliangrong House, Tamenglong District, various concern
villages, leaders and public leaders attended the meeting. The meeting also
strongly condemned the construction of the Dam. N.B. Pamei, Social worker/
writer said that, ‘I strongly oppose the construction of Tipaimukh High Dam
because it will damage our land and natural resources. We have the right to our
land. No one even the President, Prime Minister of India cannot take away our
rights’. Oinamlong village Chairman, K.G. Chingbi also opined that we oppose the
construction of the said dam because 21 km. of land in Barak side and 15km. in
Makhu river side will be affected. Further flora and fauna of the land would be
damaged. We do not want any compensation from the Government. We want to
keep our rich land for our use and for the use of the generations to come.
Compensation promised by the concern authority will never compensate with the
value of the land. It will last only for few days or months. Everything will vanish
forever and our livelihood would be at the mercy of outsiders. Job facilities
promised by the government will never be ours, because we don’t have a capable
person to get the job so others educated person will take the advantages, only a
few may get the opportunities. ‘This is how all the Zeliangrong people are strongly
against the construction of Dam at Tipaimukh’. The Zeliangrong people are also
considered that the construction of the Dam will submerge the Barak waterfalls
and five sacred lakes which have a deep connection to the traditional history of
the Zeliangrong Nagas in particular the Asha-Mikcharung folklore with many myths
including legend of Jadonnang’s magical sword- one of the revered national hero
of the Naga, which form inalienable part of the Zeliangrong culture heritage.
Evergreen forest and cultivable land together with the 2 holy rivers (Tuirong and
Tuivai) of the Hmar people will also be submerged.
The Government authorities are mobilizing the public to understand the real
benefits of the Tipaimukh Dam, but the people also really know that the merits
point are much less than its demerits. Therefore, they are totally against the
Government proposal.
Actually Manipur State has already enough dams for the purpose of generation
electricity and irrigation. But many of the Dams cannot produce what was
envisaged for the lack of proper management. For instance, Loktak Hydro Project
could not supply enough power to the state due to poor management. but it has
destroyed a thousands of hectares of paddy fields. Likewise, khoupum Light
Irrigation Project has become a total failure resulting in the loss of thousands of
hectares of wet paddy fields. It is said that except for the lack of proper
management or maintenance, India has already enough dams which could
generate sufficient power for the entire country. Therefore, instead of constructing
new dams if we invest the money and technicians in the existing projects it will be
much better than to construct a new one. This will also solve the problems and we
will not loss our lands and properties. If possible, we must aim to build/ construct

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