Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR, SEP 7:

Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum (SIFF) Youth Wing legal advisor Ebo Mili has questioned the alleged conduct of an “unofficial meeting” held by Central Zone Division Commissioner-cum-Commissioner of Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Amjad Tak with the people of Geku, Upper Siang on August 27 last.

In a press conference held at the Arunachal Press Club (APC) here on Monday, Mili alleged that the meeting was conducted without informing the local administrative authorities at Geku, describing it as a “fishy and shady act” and a violation of established administrative protocols.

He also raised concern over the threat posed by a glacial lake located around 30 km from Tuting in Upper Siang, claiming that the lake is on the verge of breaching and has been categorised as an ‘A-category’ glacial lake, indicating an immediate threat.

“Unfortunately, no preparations have been made by the state government so far to deal with the situation,” Mili said.

He further claimed that construction of the proposed dam in the area could aggravate the situation and increase the risk of a glacial lake outburst flood, as adequate coping and disaster-management mechanisms have allegedly not been put in place.

On the ‘Livelihood Generation Scheme’, Mili warned local-level signatories and officials involved in the paperwork of the scheme to refrain from proceeding with activities without proper transparency and authorisation.

He said the forum would seek information through the Right to Information (RTI) Act in the future to ascertain the source and utilisation of funds under the scheme, alleging that the funding pattern remains unclear.

Mili further alleged that private companies are attempting to persuade local people to sign MoUs for the construction of SUMP facilities by offering them Rs 2 lakh under the Livelihood Generation Scheme.

He cautioned that similar 27 glacial lake-related threats exist in various districts such as Dibang Valley, Tawang, Anjaw, Kurung Kumey, Shi Yomi and warned that construction of dams without adequate scientific assessment, preparedness and mitigation mechanisms could have serious consequences if any such lake breaches.

He urged the state government and concerned authorities to conduct proper scientific assessments, ensure transparency in project-related activities and put in place adequate disaster preparedness measures in vulnerable areas as precautions from glacier outburst