In Mizoram, youths are protesting against a highway project that is ‘causing ecological damage’ | Popgen Tech

Environmental activists in Mizoram have criticized the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation for not following environmental laws and regulations while undertaking highway projects in the state. These projects have led to environmental damage, say activists, including pollution of the state’s water bodies.

The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation, which comes under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, is currently carrying out expansion work on four national highways in the state – NH09 (Seling-Zokhawthar), NH102B (Keifang-Manipur), NH302 (Lunglei-) . Tlabung) and NH54 (Aizawl-Tuipang).

On July 19, more than 2,000 people took part in a rally against these projects in Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram. It was led by Youth for Environment Justice Mizoram, led by social activist Vanramchhuangi, popularly known as Ruatfela Nu. In his memorandum to the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, the youth leader demanded an immediate stay order for the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation highway project.

The memorandum said: “The indigenous Mizo people have survived throughout history in this difficult terrain and place because of our rivers. The massive encroachment that has destroyed agricultural land and polluted our main livelihood water is a result of negligence and neglect of environmental laws and regulations by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation and all government stakeholders involved at all levels.” He demanded that the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation restore the damage to the environment and that development projects and serious Environmental Impact Assessment be done through a credible agency and only after receiving forest and environmental clearances.

An environmental movement

Lalrinfela Khiangte, Michael Lalramdingliana and Malsawmtluangi are members of Youth for Environment Justice Mizoram, who met in their study class. “During one of our discussions, we talked about the environmental issues in Mizoram and the highway project,” 23-year-old Khiangte said. Mongabay-India, adding that they wanted to do something about it, but they did not know how to proceed. Then they were introduced to Vanramchhuangi, after which they formed the youth organization.

Vanramchhuangi, 64, has been a social activist since 1996 and has worked on human rights-related issues in the past.

Initially, Youth for Environment Justice Mizoram had only a few members, but in the past few months, many people have joined this movement. Lalrintluangi, 27, a nurse practitioner from Aizawl, who joined the group in May said, “I read about the group on social media, and they felt strongly about it, so I joined.”

Today, Lalrintluangi is an integral part of Youth for Environment Justice Mizoram. Their WhatsApp group now has more than 300 members. Vanramchuuangi said that it was the support from the students of different colleges, which made the rally on July 19, a success.

Khiangte said they had met student unions of various colleges in the state before the rally. “We told them about the problem and they supported us wholeheartedly.” The group also spoke out against other projects, where environmental violations were alleged, such as the upcoming multi-functional sports complex at Lunglei being built in the Tlawng catchment area, one of Mizoram’s major rivers, and the illegal construction of a flyover. tourism in Chalfilh, Vanzau.

‘Agriculture, rivers affected’

In 2020, while traveling across the state, Vanramchuuangi witnessed the destruction caused by highway projects. “The state government did not do proper monitoring. In 1999, they built a highway from Aizawl to Lunglei. This project, which was financed by the World Bank, followed all the necessary regulations, which could not and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation project,” he said.

The activist added that the project mainly affected Situal, Serchhip and Hnahthial districts. “There are many people who depend on the crop fields on the banks of the river,” he said. “The spoiled soil deposited along the river completely destroyed the crops and made the land unfit for agricultural use.”

Mizoram also faces severe water scarcity, which may be aggravated by the massive highway work. “In 2020, when I visited Lunglei, there was a severe water shortage,” he added. “People had to fetch water from far places and also buy it sometimes. During monsoon, we get a lot of rain, but because our seasonal rivers and perennial rivers affect the work of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation, I can only imagine our struggle for water during the summer.”

Multiple environmental violations

After the Youth for Environment Justice Mizoram protest in May, the state government asked five Divisional Divisional Officers to conduct a site audit, to ascertain environmental violations. Forest Division officers of Aizawl, Champhai, Lunglei, Tlabung and Thanzawl, in their reports, pointed out irregularities by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation. The reports said that there were violations of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Mizoram Forest Act, 1955. The reports alleged dumping of waste, despite the presence of designated dumping grounds and dumping grounds. not well marked and signaled. The reports also mention that many of the landfill sites were without physical barriers (RCC/gabon walls) meant to prevent the entry of mud into rivers and streams. The establishment of labor camps inside forest areas, which is a violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, has also been reported.

The Mizoram Pollution Control Board also served a show cause notice to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation, which then said it did not need environmental clearance. Lalduhawma, Secretary Mizoram Pollution Control Board, said Mongabay-India that the show cause notice was served after the spoil of the land was dumped in a way that caused river pollution. “I have instructed them to apply for consent to operate the machines, which is being done. The state government has constituted a monitoring committee at the state level in each affected district. The committee is still conducting inspections, but most of them have been reported violations,” he said, adding that the Mizoram Pollution Control Board had not conducted any separate study. “The commissionerates are headed by the deputy commissioners of their respective districts and also have a member from the Mizoram Pollution Control Board. Road construction is welcome, as it is for the development of the state, but it should not be at the cost of the environment.”

Valpuia Malsawme Khawlhring, a member of Youth for Environment Justice Mizoram, said that though the total length of all the projects being undertaken by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation in Mizoram is more than 700 km, they find a way to evade environmental clearance. . “The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation has divided the road segment into 28 sectors to bypass the Environmental Impact Assessment,” he said. “If the segments are less than 100 km, then the Environmental Impact Assessment can be bypassed.”

A senior forest official, on condition of anonymity, said that only 8% of the area where the roads are being built, officially comes under the forest area. “So we can control the works only in the forest areas. The provision of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation was an eye-opener for the government and the people of Mizoram. Now, we must ensure that the National Highways and The Infrastructure Development Corporation has stopped recklessly throwing mud.”

The official added that after the monsoon, the natural regeneration of mud will take place. “Also, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation said that due to the monsoon, all the loot could not be transported and had to be pushed on the road,” they said.

Mixed reaction

Champhai is one of the districts where the construction work of the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation has caused major damage, which was also witnessed by this. Mongabay-India correspondents during their travels in the area. There are several places where the spoils were thrown down the mountain slopes and into the rivers. However, during the inspections, the administration did not find any problems with the spoil disposal mechanism.

The Young Mizo Association, the largest non-profit in Mizoram, is supporting the work of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation in Champhai. Lalrinmuana Fanai, a spokesperson of the Young Mizo Association, Champhai, said, “We are demanding that the construction of the road from Seling to Zokhawthar be completed within the stipulated time. We think the National Highway Development and Infrastructure Corporation is doing well and we are against their agitation, because it is delaying the project.” While Fanai agrees that some spoils have been thrown into the river, he says it will be drained during the monsoon.

Fanai said that the Young Mizo Association team in Khawzawl and Saiual also opposed the agitations, and that the construction of these roads will help people reach Aizwal faster.

The district administration of Champhai also supports the project. James Lalrinchhana, Deputy Commissioner of Champhai, said, “We have not completed our inspection completely as our district has been affected by heavy landslides and rains. A small stretch remains to be inspected. However, based on whatever inspection I have done so far, I can say that they have made good structures and the waste has been put to good use.” He added that they advised the agency to plant saplings and the company said that they will do it. “When the road is completed, we can travel from Champhai to Aizawl in five hours which otherwise takes eight to ten hours. Khawzawl, which is just 42 km from Chamohai, takes 80 minutes to reach. When the road is completed, we can cover the distance this in 30 minutes.”

Despite several attempts, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation did not respond Mongabay-Indiarequests at time of publication. Meanwhile, Youth for Environment Justice Mizoram is planning another protest. “Despite being ordered to stay, the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation is still doing their work,” Khiangte said.

This article first appeared on Mongabay.