28th Oct 2022 11:10:PM State
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Oct 28: In a significant development, the Guwahati High Court-Itanagar Bench  while  hearing the PIL N.10/2014 has directed the state government to  cancel  contracts for the construction of at least  44 Hydropower Dams in the Siang valley over the River Siang and its tributaries.
Speaking to the media, Senior Advocate and also the counsel for the PIL,  Nalo Pada informed that the judgment comes after almost  8 long years, as the PIL was filed way back in  2014 by the indigenous people of Siang belt raising serious issues with regards to the initiative of the government to build Hydro-Power Projects in the Siang valley over the River Siang.
 In the petition, locals alleged that as many as 233 Nos. of MoAs/MoUs have been executed and out of those at least fifty were over the Siang River and its tributaries. It has been alleged that the projects have been initiated in a reckless manner without any regard to  the consequences of the same and without following any scientific research.
However after a long fight, recently on 6th September 2022, Court chaired by Justice SK Medhi and Justice Malasri Nandi after hearing the PIL has directed to cancel the contracts for the construction of Hydro-Power Dams in the Siang River, informed Advocate Pada.
 He also added that drawing the attention of the Court, the  Advocate General of Arunachal Pradesh K Ete , in its additional affidavit dated 26.07.2022 has submitted that all the projects have been abandoned and the process for cancellation of the contracts, if any, are also being taken up. He also submits that in case of any such projects being taken up, the same can be done only by following the procedure established by law including clearance from statutory authorities in which the adequate safeguard and safety of the indigenous people would be taken care of.
 So, now at least 44 contracts against the construction of dams have been canceled and state government cannot continue the same project again. However, the court has submitted that in the event the State of Arunachal Pradesh takes a decision to go ahead with the construction of new dams, those are required to be done strictly in accordance with the law and taking into consideration the safety, security, and all other aspects of the affected people, asserted Advocate Nalo Pada. 


Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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