ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Feb 8: Reiterating its demands, the Pro-Dam Movement of Arunachal Pradesh (PDMAP) President Taw Paul has alleged that Chief Minister Pema Khandu-led state government is involved  in  huge corruption practices in the Hydro-Power projects  in the state.
Speaking to the reporters at the press club today, Paul claimed that huge liabilities of about Rs. 1000 crore has been shouldered upon the state government due to the loan amounting to Rs. 225 Crore taken from  the National Hydropower Corporation (NHPC) at an interest of 9% per annum, which in years to come will have a worse impact on the state and its people. Therefore, the public should raise their voice against the present state government for misusing the rivers and forests for personal gains, he said.
“There are 68 companies who signed MoUs with the state government. These big companies have  no interest to generate power or  employment and  revenue in the state instead they invest the funds in other big cities in other mega projects.  We are not against dam construction but we are against the working system of the state government as well as the executing companies,” Paul said.
He also added that, there is a framed criterion that job reservation should be prioritized for the locals of the state. Besides job reservations, he said that the companies have failed to supply free electricity to the state.
Paul also directed questions to the state government on the detailed expenditure worth  Rs. 1495 crores (approx) incurred in the hydropower project, immediate cancellation of 103 MoUs signed by the state government with several private and public power companies.
“Therefore, I appeal to the public to stop any ongoing hydropower work in their areas. Such illegal logging activities are carried out outside the notified submergence area of the project, thereby causing random loss of flora and fauna. Also, such projects are of no use when they can’t provide jobs for our unemployed youths and generate revenue for the state exchequer,” he added.
Paul also informed that his organization will soon announce a mass rally regarding the matter in the state capital, Itanagar.

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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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