Monday, 30 January 2012 16:08 Ko Pauk
The two-day meeting is hosted by Jamia Millia Islamia University, said Chin National Party chairman Zam Ciin Paul.
“I want our people to know what the project intends to do, what benefits the people will receive and what disadvantages people will suffer,” said Zam Ciin Paul. “It is in our area, so we want to know about it. As far as I know, our people will get very little benefit. The biggest benefit will go to the Indian government. It also intends to create a trade route to Asean,” said Zam Ciin Paul.
The project will turn the Kaladan River into a shipping route, he said, while adding that nearby paddy fields and bean fields could be damaged because of the intrusion of salty seawater.
“It’s important how much they will expand the river. If they dig, the river will lose its balance. The salt water will enter into the river. If they can’t control the salt water, our paddy fields and bean fields will be damaged. And all the farms near the river will be damaged for sure,” he said.
The Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project is intended to facilitate trade between India’s Mizoram State and other countries. The project includes dredging the Kaladan River to enable cargo vessels to navigate the river from Sittwe in Burma to Mizoram State in India, and it involves the construction of a river port at Paletwa. It also includes construction of a highway between Paletwa and Mizoram State.
A total of 15 Burmese delegates from the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, National Unity Party, National Democratic Force, Democratic Party (Myanmar), Chin National Party, Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), Pa-O National Organization and Inn National Development will attend the meeting.
Along with political parties, some NGOs and social groups including the Metta, Paungku and Thingaha organizations will attend along with Indian MPs, Indian ambassadors, professors, former foreign secretaries of India and the Chief Minister of Nagaland State in India.
The two-day meeting was organized by Jamia Millia Islamia University, the Tampadipa Institute and the Euro-Burma office.
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