DEMANDS:  The Phalong Village Authority and the Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur would like to submit the following demands for your kind and urgent action to ensure that the:

-        The ADB financed Kangchup – Tamenglong Road should stop causing forceful acquisition of agriculture land, residential areas, forest and hills in Tamenglong Areas of Manipur.

-        The Kangchup to Tamenglong Road project should stop causing damage to the agriculture land, forest, Streams and water sources in the villages along the Road project.   

-        That the free, prior and informed consent of all affected communities should be taken before pursuance of the Kangchup – Tamenglong Road

-        Take Forest Clearance to avoid and minimize the extensive damage of forest land and subsequent impacts on agriculture land in Phalong and other villagers in the proposed road. 

-        The Government of Manipur and the ADB should provide all the necessary and related information to affected communities.

-        The project authorities should fully implement ADB’s safeguard policies, 2009 to mitigate social, environment impacts on affected indigenous peoples.

-        Establish Grievance Mechanism to ensure the accountability of the corporate bodies involved

Urgent Appeal: Stop destruction of Indigenous Peoples’ land, forest and survival sources in Bhalok areas in Tamenglong District, Manipur by the Kangchup-Tamenglong road project financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Type of Issue / Event: Social and environment impacts on Rongmei people of Phalong

Areas, Tamenglong District, Manipur due to construction of Imphal-

ADB financed Kangchup to Tamenglong Road project

Perpetrator: Hindustan Construction Limited, Public Works Department,

Government of Manipur & Asian Development Bank

Date / Time of Event: 2017 onwards

Source of Information: Phalong Village Authority, Phalong Village, Tamenglong District,

Manipur and the Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur,

Imphal Manipur NE India 795001

Event Description:

1) The Government of Manipur pursued construction of the Kangchup-Tamenglong Road in Manipur in India’s North East with the financial support (loan) from Asian Development Bank (ADB). The road construction caused widespread impact on the agriculture land, forest areas, water sources and other livelihood sources of the Rongmei people of Tamenglong District in Manipur. The project authorities, viz, the Hindustan Construction Limited, the Public Works Department, Government of Manipur and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that financed the project remained unaccountable for the destruction of the land and survival sources of villagers.

2) The project authorities failed to provide detailed project related information and the multifaceted impacts of the project on villagers, on their land and livelihood, which is a violation of their free, prior and informed consent. The project is marred by failure to fulfil the promises committed to villagers, such as completion of compensation of land affected before works commencement.

3) The unregulated hill road cutting and the direct dumping of earth, rocks and other debris in Phalong Village already caused widespread social and environment impacts in Phalong areas. Around Sixty-four (64) Acres of land belonging to at least Twenty-Five (25) paddy field landowners have been irreparably affected in the village, leading to food insecurity of the villagers. In Bhalok Part II, the road directly cuts through their agriculture field and many are forced to give up their land with minimal compensation. Affected villagers experienced drastic reduction in crop production in their agriculture land for the past few years.

4) The direct dumping of earth, rocks and other debris from rock cutting also brings a massive impact on the Duigathok and Atithok streams, causing death to fishes, crabs and other aquatic species in the streams. These two streams are the only fishing sources for the villagers and villagers can no longer fish for their livelihood survival. Community reserve forest areas demarcated and preserved as water sources of the villagers are destroyed. Moreover, water pipes bringing water from these water sources to the Phalong villages are also destroyed, causing hardship to villagers and additional financial burden to the villagers.

5) Almost 70 houses in Bhalok Part III will be directly displaced by the Road Project. All these houses are demarcated for dismantling with the Government’s plan to acquire at least 60 feet in each side from median passing through the heart of the village. The Villagers had requested for an alternate arrangement to avoid displacement. However, the project authorities in their re-surveys stick to the original plan to pass through the village. The entire village households will be forced to shift. There has been no plan for rehabilitation and resettlement of these villagers.

6) More than 100 hectares of forest land has been destroyed just only in Bhalok Area and the entire forest land covering nearly 10 villages. No detailed impact on the forest land due to the massive disposal of earth, rock and mud in the forest land has been conducted till today. Though the total forest impact due to the project is more than 100 hectares, the project authorities failed to take forest clearance, as required under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. No proper information was provided and no initiatives to take the consent of the traditional bodies of the affected villagers exist for forest clearance under Forest Rights Act, 2006.

7) The Government of Manipur failed to undertake and provide adequate rehabilitation measures for villages whose agriculture land, forest and water bodies were affected by road cutting. Compensatory money of Rupees 10,000 to 30,000 per households was offered by the project authorities. The affected villagers mostly refused to accept the compensation given to them as it is too minimal and disproportionate to the extent of damages to their land and forest.

8) The construction of a pucca dumping wall at Abupangthok stream for the purpose of controlling the muddy flood of point 92-95km section of earth excavation have become a bigger threat to the people living in and around the Abupangthok stream. The kutcha dam constructed to serve the purpose of a dumping wall has become a big threat to the villagers as the dam could break down any time with the rise in water level, and most properties will be met with a flood of mud boulders. The construction pursued despite the concerns of villagers.

9) According to the Environment Impact Assessment report (EIA) prepared by ADB, it was reported that no severe environment impact regarding the habitat functionality and species persistence will be observed as the project area does not fall in the critical and sensitive habitat. However, the EIA undermined the rich biodiversity and the uniqueness of the flora and flora of the Tamenglong region. Moreover, there was no mentioning of Phalong village as Amur falcon village or the presence of such rare variety of birds as declared by the Government of Manipur on 26th November 2015 in the final EIA report.

10) The Manipur Government had decided to acquire land for the construction of the project road through acquisition of land from landowners as per the provisions of Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (RFCLARRA), 2013. The Government of Manipur has its policy that for road construction in hilly areas, the land will be taken through donations from Village Chiefs while compensation will be paid to individual land holders for all non-land assets including structures, standing crops and trees. This decision is taken without the consultation and consent of affected communities, which clearly undermined the ADB safeguards on promoting indigenous peoples’ rights. In Phalong Village, villagers are unwilling to part with their land and the Government failed to provide adequate compensation and the road cutting commence without providing compensation or rehabilitation to the villagers.

11) The violation of ADB safeguard is a rampant challenge in Manipur. The proposed project clearly failed to take the free, prior and informed consent of affected indigenous communities of Kangchup, Haochong, Bhalok etc, as required under the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 and even under ADB’s own safeguard policies of 2009. The ADB, prior to the Project commencement prepared the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Framework, the Environment Impact Assessment and the Indigenous Peoples Action Plan, in accordance with their Safeguard policies, 2009. However, the provisions and the commitments in these plans are violated and the commitments in these preparations are far from execution. The consultations held with the affected villages are marked by non-provision of information and unfulfilled promises. The Indigenous People’s Rights Action Plan for the project prepared has not implemented as indicated by the massive impacts.

12) The impact of displacement will worsen the economic loss of the villagers and will create social turmoil to those evicted families as there is mechanism for rehabilitation and resettlement so far. Many communities who eke out their livelihood through farming, fishing and small scale economic activity will lose their livelihood, which is a violation of their right to life, as per the Article 21 of Constitution of India, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 11 of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

13) The Kangchup-Tamenglong Road project need to establish Grievance Redress Mechanism, as per ADB guidelines, in order to ensure a better project implementation by listing out the concerns of people affected by the project. Such mechanism remained non-existent.

COMMUNITY RESPONSES: The affected villagers submitted series of memorandums to the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong District and to the Chief Minister of Manipur, highlighting the impacts and the grievances of communities.

The affected communities even organized community meeting on 23rd August and 18th September 2019 at Phalong Village, Tamenglong District to assess the impacts of the ADB financed road project and deliberated on the social, environment and other implications of the road project in their respective villages. The villagers further resolved to appraise the Government of Manipur, the HCC company building the road and the Asian Development Bank to address their grievances.

The process of road construction caused much concerns with affected communities in several areas in Tamenglong Districts. The villagers of Phalong are subjected to temporary restriction of movement in the stretch of road under construction for the Kangchup Tamenglong Villages compelling the villagers to submit a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong District 29th April 2018 to revoke the travel ban. The concerned work agency refuses to make a passage for the villagers stating that the road has been banned to travel by the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong until completion of the project, causing more inconveniences for them to travel to nearby villages like Puching village, Gongram village, Duilong village, Kabui-Khullen etc.

BACKGROUND OF INVESTMENT BY ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: The Kangchup to Tamenglong Road project is part of the major road projects in Manipur pursued under the North East State Roads Investment Program, funded by Asian Development Bank through its South Asia sub regional economic cooperation Regional Road Connectivity project. A US $ 300 million loan agreement was signed on 26th March 2015 by Asian Development Bank and the Government of Manipur for providing road connectivity to increase domestic and regional trade along the North Bengal & North Eastern region international trade corridor.

The Kangchup to Tamenglong highway will also be a part of Asian Highway no.1 that starts from Imphal City and ends at Tamenglong covering a total length of 111 km and envisaged to provide a shorter connectivity from Imphal, Manipur to Guwahati City in Assam by at least 90km, compared to the existing route via Dimapur in Nagaland. The Public Works Department, Manipur, awarded a Rs.1,114.18 crore contract to the Hindustan Construction Company Ltd, joint venture with Vensar Constructions Company Ltd for the road project. The Road project will pass through settlement areas of Imphal, Kangchup, Haochong, Bhalok and Tamenglong covering only 15km of an existing road and almost 96 km of the alignment will cut through mountainous terrain in Kangpokpi and Tamenglong Districts.

DEMANDS: The Phalong Village Authority and the Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur would like to submit the following demands for your kind and urgent action to ensure that the:

- The ADB financed Kangchup – Tamenglong Road should stop causing forceful acquisition of agriculture land, residential areas, forest and hills in Tamenglong Areas of Manipur.

- The Kangchup to Tamenglong Road project should stop causing damage to the agriculture land, forest, Streams and water sources in the villages along the Road project.

- That the free, prior and informed consent of all affected communities should be taken before pursuance of the Kangchup – Tamenglong Road

- Take Forest Clearance to avoid and minimize the extensive damage of forest land and subsequent impacts on agriculture land in Phalong and other villagers in the proposed road.

- The Government of Manipur and the ADB should provide all the necessary and related information to affected communities.

- The project authorities should fully implement ADB’s safeguard policies, 2009 to mitigate social, environment impacts on affected indigenous peoples.

- Establish Grievance Mechanism to ensure the accountability of the corporate bodies involved

Please write to the following officials:

Takehiko Nakao

President, Asian Development Bank,

6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550,

Metro Manila, Philippines

Ph: + 6326324444 / 6326364444

Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman

Governor for India in the Asian Development Bank

Minister of Finance, Ministry of Finance

Government of India

New Delhi, India 23093289 / 23092828 23092510 / 23092810

fmo@nic.in

Mr. Nongthombam Biren,

Chief Minister of Manipur New Secretariat Building Bapupara, Imphal, Manipur INDIA Fax + 91 385 2451398 E-mail: cmmani@hub.nic.in

Project Director, NESRIP PWD. Manipur,

Room No. A-301, 2nd Floor, South Block,

PWD Complex, Khuyathong Imphal.

Tele-Fax. 0385-2452837

E-mail: pdmanipur@gmail.com

MEDIA COVERAGES ON IMPACTS OF KANGCHUP TO TAMENGLONG ROAD PROJECT FINANZED BY THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Phalong farmers decry authority’s avoidance

The Imphal Free Press, 16 May 2019

https://www.ifp.co.in/page/items/49111/phalong-farmers-decry-authoritys-avoidance/

TAMENGLONG | May 15 : Despite of repeated memorandum submitted to the authorities concerned by the farmers of Phalong (Bhalok) regarding the on-going road construction of Imphal-Kangchup-Tamenglong road (IKTR) that affected the wet lands, the voices of the farmers are left unheard. In an exclusive interview, chairman of Paddy Field Affected Association Phalong village, Ramliamang Panmei disclosed that under the project funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), at least 25 paddy fields were destroyed by mud and stones carried down by running water since July 26 last year. Another 10 paddy fields were again destroyed this year.

Apart from destruction of wet fields or paddy field, orange, pineapple, banana, litchi and other farms were destroyed by mud and other materials due to flowing down of muddy water into in the village. Consequently, fishes, crabs and snails are no longer found at Duiga and Atibak streams due to the on-going project at Phalong village, added Ramliamang. Phalong (Bhalok) village is located some 9.4 km from district headquarters in the eastern side of Tamenglong.

He recalled that on September 16 last, SDC team had surveyed and found that 25 paddy fields of 63.6 acres were damaged and cannot be cultivated again. However, the contractors engaged in the construction work offered to give Rs. 10,000 per acres as compensation for their damaged wet fields. However, the farmers affected by the project turned down the offer, he added. He continued that the projects affected families want the work agency and government to understand the ground reality that how the poor cultivators have depended on the paddy field since the time of forefathers. He further said that the whole villagers welcome the road but the authority silent concerned should also take the issue seriously which has created confusion among the villagers.

While appealing the authority concerned to immediately compensate and other entitle benefit as per the relevant provision in accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act 2013, Paddy Field Affected Association of Phalong village has warned to carry out different forms of democratic agitation and stated any unwanted incident should be responsible by the project agency and government.

Source: Imphal Free Press

Community meeting on impacts of ADB financed Road project at Phalong Village, Tamenglong

E-Pao.Net, 24th August 2019

http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.Press_Release.Press_Release_2019.Community_meeting_on_impacts_of_ADB_financed_Road_project_at_Phalong_Tamenglong_20190825

The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur and the Phalong Village Authority organized a community meeting on “ADB Financed Road project in Tamenglong” on 23rd August 2019 at Phalong Village, Tamenglong District, Manipur. The community meeting was organized to assess the implications of ADB financed road projects, especially the Kangchup to Tamenglong road project in Manipur. The villagers of Phalong (Bhalok) part I, II and III attended the meeting and deliberated on the social, environment and other implications of the road project in their respective villages.

Hutenkum Panmei of Phalong Village expressed that the villagers are elated and much hopeful with the road project to connect with Imphal and Tamenglong Town at ease, but he said the project rather destroyed villagers’ agriculture land, water stream, forest in massive dumping of the earth, rock and other debris from hill cutting for the road. With this, many villagers can no longer cultivate their agriculture land due to rocks and debris piling up on their fields.

Water sources are destroyed by the debris and streams are also deprived of fishes and crabs. Mr. Khiamthiuwang of Bhalok Village said Jhum field areas are destroyed and green landscape are turn into reddish slopes with vulnerabilities for landslides. Villagers offered land for dumping of earth& rock which project authorities ignored and directly dumped in villagers land and water sources.

Mr. Disinglung Panmei, Secretary, Phalong Village Authority expressed concern that the settlement area of Bhalok of more than 40 households of Phalong Part III will be displaced by the road project. Villagers are worried of the non-provision of information by the Government on the rehabilitation and resettlement of villagers to be displaced by the project.

Mr. Keiritong Panmei complaint that the meagre amount sanctioned for some of the affected villagers for loss of their crop is far too minimal and simply disproportionate to the damage inflicted by the company to their agriculture land. Guikindin Panmei, Development Chairman, Part III, said that Seventy percent of their land has been damaged in Bhalok village. The development Committee submitted letter to the project manager of the road project and district administration to address villager’s grievances, but there have been no positive responses. Villagers are uncertain if the company will ever compensate the villagers for the loss of their land. Ms. Kadidinliu, women representative of Phalong Village shared that the company and the government need to fulfil their promises to stop destroying water sources and to repair the water sources destroyed before the coming winter. The village women folks will be compelled to act against the company, especially in Part III. Mr. Jiten Yumnam, Secretary, Centre for Research and Advocacy shared that the Government of Manipur and the corporate bodies involved in the ADB financed Kangchup to Tamenglong Road project should minimize all forms of social, environmental and other impacts on communities and emphasized the need for full compliance to the ADB’s Safeguard policies, especially to improve the lives of indigenous communities affected by projects financed by them as outlined in Indigenous Peoples Action Plan, prepared for the project. The Villagers attending the meeting resolved to apprise the Government of Manipur and the Asian Development Bank to desist from direct disposal of earth, rocks and other debris from road cutting in their agriculture land, forest and water sources and to address their grievances.The villagers also resolved to urge the Government to compensate for the loss of their land and other survival sources before acquiring their land and work commencement & to consult and take consent of villagers in the project implementation and in addressing the impacts and grievances of affected communities.

CRAM against projects posing threat to villagers

The Peoples Chronicle, 6 October 2019

http://www.thepeopleschronicle.in/daily/english/4852

IMPHAL, 5th Oct: Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRAM) has expressed concern over the impact of Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Kangchup to Tamenglong Road project claiming that it severely affecting the villages of Phalong (Bhalok), Diluan, Khebuching and nearby areas. In a release, CRAM described as unfortunate over alleged lack of accountability on the part of corporate bodies and the government officials involved in the project and pointed out that direct dumping of soil, rock and other debris from excavation activities have destroyed agricultural lands and water sources which serve as the main lifeline of the villagers. It also highlighted that 64 acres of agricultural land in Phalong village have been severely affected, giving a hard blow on the food security of the village. Moreover, the project has caused extensive damage to Duigathok and Atithok streams, threatening the aquatic habitat and perishing entire fish and crab population among many other species.

Further, CRAM maintained that the major concern of the villagers of Bhalok is the direct impact of the project to their quarters, and nearly 70 houses in Bhalok Part-III are being demarcated for dismantling as the government plans to acquire at least 60 feet of land on each sides of the road median which runs through the village. The villagers are also facing challenges due to the lack of adequate rehabilitation and the government failed to provide full and adequate compensation to all the affected villages except for some selected few, CRAM said. It urged the state government and project authorities to not allow the displacement of villagers of Phalong and Diluan without their consent and to properly dispose the excavation debris without damaging the environment and agricultural lands. It also asserted that authorities should give adequate compensation to the affected villagers along with asking the project authorities to ensure full compliance to the ADB’s safeguard policies to improve the lives of the affected communities and to minimise impacts.

Imphal-Kangchup-Tamenglong road to be completed by November 2020

The Imphal Free Press, 20 April 2018

http://www.ifp.co.in/page/items/48418/imphal-kangchup-tamenglong-road-to-be-completed-by-november-2020

Public works department (PWD) today said that the Imphal-Kangchup-Tamenglong road construction work has started under SASEC road connectivity improvement project under Asian Development Bank funding programme. The project will be completed by November 2020 under revised target, said project director, Y. Joykumar Singh at the ongoing press conferences of head of departments on developmental activities. The press conference was held at department of information and public relation, Moirangkhom complex and was presided over by director of IPR, Heisnam Balkrisna Singh. The road of 103.02 km stretch is constructed by South Asia Sub-regional Economic Corporation under ADB funding, he added. Chief engineer, Kh. Temba stated that the department which is a work execution department of government constructs roads and buildings. He highlighted briefly the history of the department which come into being from 1891 in the nation as a subdivision of the CPWD and how it got upgraded as a division by 1949 and how it has been functioning till today.

The state PWD operates all the works of new construction and maintenance of roads and bridges in the roads except those under jurisdiction of BRO, NHIDCL and rural engineering department, he said. He pointed out that the total length of roads in the state according to the Basic Road Statistics of India by the end of March 2016 including National Highways, NEC, BRTF, PMGSY and Local Governing Body Roads is 20002.645 km. Temba also explained that PWD covers a road stretch of 552.815 and NHIDCL covers 608.780 kms and BRO covers approximately 582.200 kms out of 1741.795 kms of National Highways road stretch in the state. He informed that five projects which includes Koirengei-Sekmai road (Rs.20 crore) are taken up under NLCPR of ministry of DoNER. Interstate road connectivity under ministry of road transport and highways includes Mao-Kohima road, Churachandpur-Mizoram road and Serou-Sugnu road.

Under NABARD loan, 10 projects have been sanctioned and has already started work from rural infrastructure development fund (RIDF) which includes three road works and seven bridges, the chief engineer added. There are also Externally Aided Projects (sponsored by World Bank) in the state under the North Eastern State Road Investment Program with ongoing work for Tupul-Bishnupur road and Thoubal-Kasom village. He said that the issue is quality control and for that mini laboratory which was previously at Porompat has been shifted to PWD office. The press conference was moderated by director of IPR, Heisnam Balkrisna Singh and attended by chief engineer (Building) N. Noren Singh, additional chief engineer- III, T. Rabindrakumar Singh, additional CE-II, N Subhasand and project director, Y. Joykumar Singh.

ex

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: ’jitn yumnam’ via iphrdefenders <iphrdefenders@googlegroups.com> Date: Sun, Oct 20, 2019 at 8:03 PM Subject: Urgent Appeal: Urge ADB & GOI to uphold IP rights in Kangchup to TML road in Manipur To:

Dear Friends,

Greetings ! Please find an urgent appeal issued by the Phalong Village Authority and the Center for Research and Advocacy, Manipur concerning the violations of Indigenous peoples rights and destruction of their agriculture land and forest areas in Phalong Village and neighboring areas in Tamenglong District in interior Manipur due to the construction of the Kangchup - Tamenglong Road project financed by the Asian Development Bank. The project authorities, the Hindustan Construction Limited, the Government of Manipur and the Asian Development Bank continues to remain unaccountable despite affected villagers petition to address the impacts and other grievances. We would like to request your kind intervention to the following officials outlined to seek justice for the violations. Pls find attached media reportages, visuals of impacts and the appeal.

Best regards,

Jiten Yumnam

on behalf of the Phalong Village Authority and

Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur

Jupiter Yambem Centre, Paona Bazar, Imphal Manipur

NE India 795001. E-add: cra.Manipur@gmail.com

http://www.cramanipur.wordpress.com

Urgent Appeal: Stop destruction of Indigenous Peoples’ land, forest and survival sources in Bhalok areas in Tamenglong District, Manipur by the Kangchup-Tamenglong road project financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Type of Issue / Event: Social and environment impacts on Rongmei people of Phalong

Areas, Tamenglong District, Manipur due to construction of Imphal-

ADB financed Kangchup to Tamenglong Road project

Perpetrator: Hindustan Construction Limited, Public Works Department,

Government of Manipur & Asian Development Bank

Date / Time of Event: 2017 onwards

Source of Information: Phalong Village Authority, Phalong Village, Tamenglong District,

Manipur and the Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur,

Imphal Manipur NE India 795001

Event Description:

1) The Government of Manipur pursued construction of the Kangchup-Tamenglong Road in Manipur in India’s North East with the financial support (loan) from Asian Development Bank (ADB). The road construction caused widespread impact on the agriculture land, forest areas, water sources and other livelihood sources of the Rongmei people of Tamenglong District in Manipur. The project authorities, viz, the Hindustan Construction Limited, the Public Works Department, Government of Manipur and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that financed the project remained unaccountable for the destruction of the land and survival sources of villagers.

2) The project authorities failed to provide detailed project related information and the multifaceted impacts of the project on villagers, on their land and livelihood, which is a violation of their free, prior and informed consent. The project is marred by failure to fulfil the promises committed to villagers, such as completion of compensation of land affected before works commencement.

3) The unregulated hill road cutting and the direct dumping of earth, rocks and other debris in Phalong Village already caused widespread social and environment impacts in Phalong areas. Around Sixty-four (64) Acres of land belonging to at least Twenty-Five (25) paddy field landowners have been irreparably affected in the village, leading to food insecurity of the villagers. In Bhalok Part II, the road directly cuts through their agriculture field and many are forced to give up their land with minimal compensation. Affected villagers experienced drastic reduction in crop production in their agriculture land for the past few years.

4) The direct dumping of earth, rocks and other debris from rock cutting also brings a massive impact on the Duigathok and Atithok streams, causing death to fishes, crabs and other aquatic species in the streams. These two streams are the only fishing sources for the villagers and villagers can no longer fish for their livelihood survival. Community reserve forest areas demarcated and preserved as water sources of the villagers are destroyed. Moreover, water pipes bringing water from these water sources to the Phalong villages are also destroyed, causing hardship to villagers and additional financial burden to the villagers.

5) Almost 70 houses in Bhalok Part III will be directly displaced by the Road Project. All these houses are demarcated for dismantling with the Government’s plan to acquire at least 60 feet in each side from median passing through the heart of the village. The Villagers had requested for an alternate arrangement to avoid displacement. However, the project authorities in their re-surveys stick to the original plan to pass through the village. The entire village households will be forced to shift. There has been no plan for rehabilitation and resettlement of these villagers.

6) More than 100 hectares of forest land has been destroyed just only in Bhalok Area and the entire forest land covering nearly 10 villages. No detailed impact on the forest land due to the massive disposal of earth, rock and mud in the forest land has been conducted till today. Though the total forest impact due to the project is more than 100 hectares, the project authorities failed to take forest clearance, as required under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. No proper information was provided and no initiatives to take the consent of the traditional bodies of the affected villagers exist for forest clearance under Forest Rights Act, 2006.

7) The Government of Manipur failed to undertake and provide adequate rehabilitation measures for villages whose agriculture land, forest and water bodies were affected by road cutting. Compensatory money of Rupees 10,000 to 30,000 per households was offered by the project authorities. The affected villagers mostly refused to accept the compensation given to them as it is too minimal and disproportionate to the extent of damages to their land and forest.

8) The construction of a pucca dumping wall at Abupangthok stream for the purpose of controlling the muddy flood of point 92-95km section of earth excavation have become a bigger threat to the people living in and around the Abupangthok stream. The kutcha dam constructed to serve the purpose of a dumping wall has become a big threat to the villagers as the dam could break down any time with the rise in water level, and most properties will be met with a flood of mud boulders. The construction pursued despite the concerns of villagers.

9) According to the Environment Impact Assessment report (EIA) prepared by ADB, it was reported that no severe environment impact regarding the habitat functionality and species persistence will be observed as the project area does not fall in the critical and sensitive habitat. However, the EIA undermined the rich biodiversity and the uniqueness of the flora and flora of the Tamenglong region. Moreover, there was no mentioning of Phalong village as Amur falcon village or the presence of such rare variety of birds as declared by the Government of Manipur on 26th November 2015 in the final EIA report.

10) The Manipur Government had decided to acquire land for the construction of the project road through acquisition of land from landowners as per the provisions of Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act (RFCLARRA), 2013. The Government of Manipur has its policy that for road construction in hilly areas, the land will be taken through donations from Village Chiefs while compensation will be paid to individual land holders for all non-land assets including structures, standing crops and trees. This decision is taken without the consultation and consent of affected communities, which clearly undermined the ADB safeguards on promoting indigenous peoples’ rights. In Phalong Village, villagers are unwilling to part with their land and the Government failed to provide adequate compensation and the road cutting commence without providing compensation or rehabilitation to the villagers.

11) The violation of ADB safeguard is a rampant challenge in Manipur. The proposed project clearly failed to take the free, prior and informed consent of affected indigenous communities of Kangchup, Haochong, Bhalok etc, as required under the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 and even under ADB’s own safeguard policies of 2009. The ADB, prior to the Project commencement prepared the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Framework, the Environment Impact Assessment and the Indigenous Peoples Action Plan, in accordance with their Safeguard policies, 2009. However, the provisions and the commitments in these plans are violated and the commitments in these preparations are far from execution. The consultations held with the affected villages are marked by non-provision of information and unfulfilled promises. The Indigenous People’s Rights Action Plan for the project prepared has not implemented as indicated by the massive impacts.

12) The impact of displacement will worsen the economic loss of the villagers and will create social turmoil to those evicted families as there is mechanism for rehabilitation and resettlement so far. Many communities who eke out their livelihood through farming, fishing and small scale economic activity will lose their livelihood, which is a violation of their right to life, as per the Article 21 of Constitution of India, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 11 of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

13) The Kangchup-Tamenglong Road project need to establish Grievance Redress Mechanism, as per ADB guidelines, in order to ensure a better project implementation by listing out the concerns of people affected by the project. Such mechanism remained non-existent.

COMMUNITY RESPONSES: The affected villagers submitted series of memorandums to the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong District and to the Chief Minister of Manipur, highlighting the impacts and the grievances of communities.

The affected communities even organized community meeting on 23rd August and 18th September 2019 at Phalong Village, Tamenglong District to assess the impacts of the ADB financed road project and deliberated on the social, environment and other implications of the road project in their respective villages. The villagers further resolved to appraise the Government of Manipur, the HCC company building the road and the Asian Development Bank to address their grievances.

The process of road construction caused much concerns with affected communities in several areas in Tamenglong Districts. The villagers of Phalong are subjected to temporary restriction of movement in the stretch of road under construction for the Kangchup Tamenglong Villages compelling the villagers to submit a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong District 29th April 2018 to revoke the travel ban. The concerned work agency refuses to make a passage for the villagers stating that the road has been banned to travel by the Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong until completion of the project, causing more inconveniences for them to travel to nearby villages like Puching village, Gongram village, Duilong village, Kabui-Khullen etc.

BACKGROUND OF INVESTMENT BY ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: The Kangchup to Tamenglong Road project is part of the major road projects in Manipur pursued under the North East State Roads Investment Program, funded by Asian Development Bank through its South Asia sub regional economic cooperation Regional Road Connectivity project. A US $ 300 million loan agreement was signed on 26th March 2015 by Asian Development Bank and the Government of Manipur for providing road connectivity to increase domestic and regional trade along the North Bengal & North Eastern region international trade corridor.

The Kangchup to Tamenglong highway will also be a part of Asian Highway no.1 that starts from Imphal City and ends at Tamenglong covering a total length of 111 km and envisaged to provide a shorter connectivity from Imphal, Manipur to Guwahati City in Assam by at least 90km, compared to the existing route via Dimapur in Nagaland. The Public Works Department, Manipur, awarded a Rs.1,114.18 crore contract to the Hindustan Construction Company Ltd, joint venture with Vensar Constructions Company Ltd for the road project. The Road project will pass through settlement areas of Imphal, Kangchup, Haochong, Bhalok and Tamenglong covering only 15km of an existing road and almost 96 km of the alignment will cut through mountainous terrain in Kangpokpi and Tamenglong Districts.

Please write to the following officials:

Takehiko Nakao

President, Asian Development Bank,

6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550,

Metro Manila, Philippines

Ph: + 6326324444 / 6326364444

Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman

Governor for India in the Asian Development Bank

Minister of Finance, Ministry of Finance

Government of India

New Delhi, India 23093289 / 23092828 23092510 / 23092810

fmo@nic.in

Mr. Nongthombam Biren,

Chief Minister of Manipur New Secretariat Building Bapupara, Imphal, Manipur INDIA Fax + 91 385 2451398 E-mail: cmmani@hub.nic.in

Project Director, NESRIP PWD. Manipur,

Room No. A-301, 2nd Floor, South Block,

PWD Complex, Khuyathong Imphal.

Tele-Fax. 0385-2452837

E-mail: pdmanipur@gmail.com

MEDIA COVERAGES ON IMPACTS OF KANGCHUP TO TAMENGLONG ROAD PROJECT FINANZED BY THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Phalong farmers decry authority’s avoidance

The Imphal Free Press, 16 May 2019

https://www.ifp.co.in/page/items/49111/phalong-farmers-decry-authoritys-avoidance/

TAMENGLONG | May 15 : Despite of repeated memorandum submitted to the authorities concerned by the farmers of Phalong (Bhalok) regarding the on-going road construction of Imphal-Kangchup-Tamenglong road (IKTR) that affected the wet lands, the voices of the farmers are left unheard. In an exclusive interview, chairman of Paddy Field Affected Association Phalong village, Ramliamang Panmei disclosed that under the project funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), at least 25 paddy fields were destroyed by mud and stones carried down by running water since July 26 last year. Another 10 paddy fields were again destroyed this year.

Apart from destruction of wet fields or paddy field, orange, pineapple, banana, litchi and other farms were destroyed by mud and other materials due to flowing down of muddy water into in the village. Consequently, fishes, crabs and snails are no longer found at Duiga and Atibak streams due to the on-going project at Phalong village, added Ramliamang. Phalong (Bhalok) village is located some 9.4 km from district headquarters in the eastern side of Tamenglong.

He recalled that on September 16 last, SDC team had surveyed and found that 25 paddy fields of 63.6 acres were damaged and cannot be cultivated again. However, the contractors engaged in the construction work offered to give Rs. 10,000 per acres as compensation for their damaged wet fields. However, the farmers affected by the project turned down the offer, he added. He continued that the projects affected families want the work agency and government to understand the ground reality that how the poor cultivators have depended on the paddy field since the time of forefathers. He further said that the whole villagers welcome the road but the authority silent concerned should also take the issue seriously which has created confusion among the villagers.

While appealing the authority concerned to immediately compensate and other entitle benefit as per the relevant provision in accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act 2013, Paddy Field Affected Association of Phalong village has warned to carry out different forms of democratic agitation and stated any unwanted incident should be responsible by the project agency and government.

Source: Imphal Free Press

Community meeting on impacts of ADB financed Road project at Phalong Village, Tamenglong

E-Pao.Net, 24th August 2019

http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.Press_Release.Press_Release_2019.Community_meeting_on_impacts_of_ADB_financed_Road_project_at_Phalong_Tamenglong_20190825

The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur and the Phalong Village Authority organized a community meeting on “ADB Financed Road project in Tamenglong” on 23rd August 2019 at Phalong Village, Tamenglong District, Manipur. The community meeting was organized to assess the implications of ADB financed road projects, especially the Kangchup to Tamenglong road project in Manipur. The villagers of Phalong (Bhalok) part I, II and III attended the meeting and deliberated on the social, environment and other implications of the road project in their respective villages.

Hutenkum Panmei of Phalong Village expressed that the villagers are elated and much hopeful with the road project to connect with Imphal and Tamenglong Town at ease, but he said the project rather destroyed villagers’ agriculture land, water stream, forest in massive dumping of the earth, rock and other debris from hill cutting for the road. With this, many villagers can no longer cultivate their agriculture land due to rocks and debris piling up on their fields.

Water sources are destroyed by the debris and streams are also deprived of fishes and crabs. Mr. Khiamthiuwang of Bhalok Village said Jhum field areas are destroyed and green landscape are turn into reddish slopes with vulnerabilities for landslides. Villagers offered land for dumping of earth& rock which project authorities ignored and directly dumped in villagers land and water sources.

Mr. Disinglung Panmei, Secretary, Phalong Village Authority expressed concern that the settlement area of Bhalok of more than 40 households of Phalong Part III will be displaced by the road project. Villagers are worried of the non-provision of information by the Government on the rehabilitation and resettlement of villagers to be displaced by the project.

Mr. Keiritong Panmei complaint that the meagre amount sanctioned for some of the affected villagers for loss of their crop is far too minimal and simply disproportionate to the damage inflicted by the company to their agriculture land. Guikindin Panmei, Development Chairman, Part III, said that Seventy percent of their land has been damaged in Bhalok village. The development Committee submitted letter to the project manager of the road project and district administration to address villager’s grievances, but there have been no positive responses. Villagers are uncertain if the company will ever compensate the villagers for the loss of their land. Ms. Kadidinliu, women representative of Phalong Village shared that the company and the government need to fulfil their promises to stop destroying water sources and to repair the water sources destroyed before the coming winter. The village women folks will be compelled to act against the company, especially in Part III. Mr. Jiten Yumnam, Secretary, Centre for Research and Advocacy shared that the Government of Manipur and the corporate bodies involved in the ADB financed Kangchup to Tamenglong Road project should minimize all forms of social, environmental and other impacts on communities and emphasized the need for full compliance to the ADB’s Safeguard policies, especially to improve the lives of indigenous communities affected by projects financed by them as outlined in Indigenous Peoples Action Plan, prepared for the project. The Villagers attending the meeting resolved to apprise the Government of Manipur and the Asian Development Bank to desist from direct disposal of earth, rocks and other debris from road cutting in their agriculture land, forest and water sources and to address their grievances.The villagers also resolved to urge the Government to compensate for the loss of their land and other survival sources before acquiring their land and work commencement & to consult and take consent of villagers in the project implementation and in addressing the impacts and grievances of affected communities.

CRAM against projects posing threat to villagers

The Peoples Chronicle, 6 October 2019

http://www.thepeopleschronicle.in/daily/english/4852

IMPHAL, 5th Oct: Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRAM) has expressed concern over the impact of Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Kangchup to Tamenglong Road project claiming that it severely affecting the villages of Phalong (Bhalok), Diluan, Khebuching and nearby areas. In a release, CRAM described as unfortunate over alleged lack of accountability on the part of corporate bodies and the government officials involved in the project and pointed out that direct dumping of soil, rock and other debris from excavation activities have destroyed agricultural lands and water sources which serve as the main lifeline of the villagers. It also highlighted that 64 acres of agricultural land in Phalong village have been severely affected, giving a hard blow on the food security of the village. Moreover, the project has caused extensive damage to Duigathok and Atithok streams, threatening the aquatic habitat and perishing entire fish and crab population among many other species.

Further, CRAM maintained that the major concern of the villagers of Bhalok is the direct impact of the project to their quarters, and nearly 70 houses in Bhalok Part-III are being demarcated for dismantling as the government plans to acquire at least 60 feet of land on each sides of the road median which runs through the village. The villagers are also facing challenges due to the lack of adequate rehabilitation and the government failed to provide full and adequate compensation to all the affected villages except for some selected few, CRAM said. It urged the state government and project authorities to not allow the displacement of villagers of Phalong and Diluan without their consent and to properly dispose the excavation debris without damaging the environment and agricultural lands. It also asserted that authorities should give adequate compensation to the affected villagers along with asking the project authorities to ensure full compliance to the ADB’s safeguard policies to improve the lives of the affected communities and to minimise impacts.

Imphal-Kangchup-Tamenglong road to be completed by November 2020

The Imphal Free Press, 20 April 2018

http://www.ifp.co.in/page/items/48418/imphal-kangchup-tamenglong-road-to-be-completed-by-november-2020

Public works department (PWD) today said that the Imphal-Kangchup-Tamenglong road construction work has started under SASEC road connectivity improvement project under Asian Development Bank funding programme. The project will be completed by November 2020 under revised target, said project director, Y. Joykumar Singh at the ongoing press conferences of head of departments on developmental activities. The press conference was held at department of information and public relation, Moirangkhom complex and was presided over by director of IPR, Heisnam Balkrisna Singh. The road of 103.02 km stretch is constructed by South Asia Sub-regional Economic Corporation under ADB funding, he added. Chief engineer, Kh. Temba stated that the department which is a work execution department of government constructs roads and buildings. He highlighted briefly the history of the department which come into being from 1891 in the nation as a subdivision of the CPWD and how it got upgraded as a division by 1949 and how it has been functioning till today.

The state PWD operates all the works of new construction and maintenance of roads and bridges in the roads except those under jurisdiction of BRO, NHIDCL and rural engineering department, he said. He pointed out that the total length of roads in the state according to the Basic Road Statistics of India by the end of March 2016 including National Highways, NEC, BRTF, PMGSY and Local Governing Body Roads is 20002.645 km. Temba also explained that PWD covers a road stretch of 552.815 and NHIDCL covers 608.780 kms and BRO covers approximately 582.200 kms out of 1741.795 kms of National Highways road stretch in the state. He informed that five projects which includes Koirengei-Sekmai road (Rs.20 crore) are taken up under NLCPR of ministry of DoNER. Interstate road connectivity under ministry of road transport and highways includes Mao-Kohima road, Churachandpur-Mizoram road and Serou-Sugnu road.

Under NABARD loan, 10 projects have been sanctioned and has already started work from rural infrastructure development fund (RIDF) which includes three road works and seven bridges, the chief engineer added. There are also Externally Aided Projects (sponsored by World Bank) in the state under the North Eastern State Road Investment Program with ongoing work for Tupul-Bishnupur road and Thoubal-Kasom village. He said that the issue is quality control and for that mini laboratory which was previously at Porompat has been shifted to PWD office. The press conference was moderated by director of IPR, Heisnam Balkrisna Singh and attended by chief engineer (Building) N. Noren Singh, additional chief engineer- III, T. Rabindrakumar Singh, additional CE-II, N Subhasand and project director, Y. Joykumar Singh.

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