| Staff Reporter |
ITANAGAR, Oct 6: The All Adi Youth Association Apex (AAYAA) has strongly condemned the deployment of paramilitary forces and police personnel in Siang district for conducting pre-feasibility report (PFR) activities for the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), alleging that the deployment reflects the state government’s use of force against the local people of the Siang belt.
Addressing reporters at the APC here, AAYAA IPR secretary Okut Tali expressed concern over the deployment of security personnel around the proposed SUMP site in Siang and Upper Siang districts.
Tali alleged that project-related activities were being undertaken without adequately taking affected communities into confidence. He questioned the deployment of government forces in the area, describing it as “dictatorial”.
He said that instead of deploying forces and carrying out activities forcefully, the government should organise Gram Sabhas and hold proper consultations with affected communities and landowners to address their concerns.
Questioning the government’s claim that the SUMP is a national project and is being pursued in the national interest, he asked why the government was conducting all-party meetings if the project was already considered a matter of national interest.
He claimed that around 27 villages in Upper Siang district were likely to be affected by the proposed project and alleged that several people had been injured during protests against the project.
AAYAA also raised concerns over the alleged use or acquisition of land without the consent of rightful landowners, maintaining that affected people have the right to raise objections and protest.
Tali pointed to the statements made by some ministers describing the activities as peaceful, but claimed that the ground reality in the affected areas was different from what was being stated.
The AAYAA called for dialogue and consultation with affected communities instead of relying on force for carrying out SUMP-related activities.