Hydropower Development and Right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous Peoples Case Study on Mapithel Dam Project, Northeast India Prepared by Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) This case study was done by NPMHR in 2008 with the cooperation of AIPP. No part of this case study may be reproduced by means of printing or digitalising (electronic copy) without prior permission from NPMHR and AIPP. Edited by Luchi Maran Photographs by NPMHR and Mapithel Dam Affected Villages Organization Layout Design by Manoj Manandhar Published by Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) 108 Moo 5 Tambon Sanpranate Amphur Sansai Chiang Mai 50210, Thailand Tel: +66 (53) 380168 Fax: +66 (53) 380752 Email:
[email protected] Website: www.aippnet.org CONTENTS Title Page No. 1 Mapithel Dam Project Information 1 2 Project preparation and implementation in relation to FPIC 8 3 Impacts to local indigenous peoples 19 4 Conclusions and recommendations 27 Endnotes 30 Case Study on Mapithel Dam Project, Northeast India 1 Mapithel Dam Project information Manipur, with a total area of 22,327 sq km, is one of the states in North East India. It borders the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Assam to the west and Mizoram to the southwest, and has an international border with Burma (Myanmar) to the east. There are nine districts which can be generally divided into two groups: those in the valley - Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur, and those in the hills - Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel, Churachandpur and Tamenglong.1 The total area of the valley districts is only 2,238 sq km while the remaining 20,089 sq km lies in hill districts.