Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, OCT 29:
Youth for Change, along with members of Indigenous of Siang and other organisations, on Thursday staged a peaceful solidarity rally in the Itanagar Capital Complex (ICC), demanding the immediate release of protesters detained in connection with the ongoing agitation against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).
The protesters also demanded the withdrawal of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and other paramilitary personnel deployed in the dam-affected areas of the Siang region. The rally commenced from Akashdeep and proceeded towards IG Park, Itanagar.
The rally witnessed participation from people from all walks of life, including youth activists and representatives of various organisations, who voiced concerns over the proposed 11,200-MW mega hydropower project and its potential impact on indigenous communities.
The protesters called for the protection of rivers, ancestral land, indigenous identity and the rights of local communities, asserting that development should not come at the cost of people’s livelihoods and traditional heritage.
The participating organisations also expressed concern over the prevailing tensions in the Siang region following recent incidents of unrest in Pasighat and Geku in connection with the proposed project. They called for a peaceful resolution of the issue and expressed solidarity with the affected communities and those detained during the agitation.
Opposition to the proposed SUMP has continued, with several organisations demanding greater transparency, meaningful consultation with affected communities and safeguards for indigenous rights.
The state government, meanwhile, has maintained that the project is crucial for water security, flood moderation and hydropower generation, while repeatedly appealing to the protesting groups to engage in dialogue.
However, organisations opposing the project have maintained that talks with Chief Minister Pema Khandu cannot proceed until the detained protesters are released and paramilitary forces are withdrawn from the affected areas.
