ITANAGAR, SEP 27:
The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has appealed to political parties, civil society organisations and community bodies to join its proposed ground visit to areas affected by the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), seeking broader participation in its fact-finding exercise.
The APCC has constituted a Study-cum-Fact-Finding Committee under the chairmanship of its Working President Tanga Byaling to assess the situation in the Siang region and other areas affected by proposed mega hydropower projects, particularly SUMP.
According to the APCC, the committee was constituted against the backdrop of continuing concerns and protests by sections of project-affected communities and reports of security deployment in the Siang region in connection with proposed project-related activities. The issue has also seen continuing differences over Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) activities in Siang and Upper Siang districts.
The committee comprises Byaling as chairman, Takam Sanjoy as vice chairman, Tami Pangu as secretary, and Daniel Gao and Johny Yangfo as members. It has been tasked with interacting with project-affected families, village elders, community-based organisations and other stakeholders; assessing social, environmental and livelihood concerns; examining grievances relating to land acquisition, rehabilitation and security deployment; and submitting a report with observations and recommendations within 15 days of its notification.
At its first meeting, the committee constituted a sub-committee to undertake ground visits. The sub-committee will be led by Tami Pangu, Member Secretary of the Fact-Finding Committee, and includes representatives of the APCC, District Congress Committees and district-level tribal organisations from the affected areas.
The APCC said the proposed village-to-village visits would seek to ascertain the ground situation and document the views and concerns of affected communities. It has appealed to political parties, Adi Bane Kebang (ABK) and its youth wing, ABK (U) and its youth wing, Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) and its youth forum, student organisations, community-based organisations, Panchayati Raj Institution representatives, Gaon Burahs and Gaon Buris, women’s and youth groups, and representatives of affected villages to nominate at least one representative to accompany the sub-committee.
The party said the representatives would be able to place their views, concerns, grievances and observations before the committee. It said the objective was to document facts, understand the concerns of affected communities and prepare a report reflecting the views gathered during the field visits.
The APCC said the issue of mega hydropower projects should not be viewed merely through a political lens, as it has implications for land, livelihoods, environment, culture and the future of local communities. It called for differences to be addressed through a peaceful and democratic process.
The party said wider participation from political parties, civil society organisations, community institutions and affected communities would make the fact-finding exercise more inclusive and representative.
The APCC’s initiative comes amid continuing public debate over SUMP and its PFR activities. The State Government has meanwhile constituted an Empowered High-Level Committee headed by Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ojing Tasing to guide and coordinate the PFR survey and associated activities, with the government stressing sustained engagement with residents of Siang and Upper Siang.
The APCC said the proposed exercise would seek to listen to the views of people at the grassroots and place its findings before the government and the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
