ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Mar 25: The Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) today reiterated that the Adis of the Siang district will never accept the 10,000MW dam proposed in their ancestral land, which threatens the existence and identity of the Adi tribe.
Speaking to reporters at the press club today, SIFF President Tasik Pangkam said that the decision of constructing a dam of such huge capacity in the district was approved without consulting and organizing a public hearing. "The state government and most importantly the department of forest should have sought permission before approving the project and also allowing any survey work," he said.
Pangkam said its been almost 13 years since he has been opposing the dam adding that it won’t be easy for any agency to execute the work at the proposed river site. The entire people of the district as well as districts and villages downstream are against the proposed dam project, the SIFF said. 
“The proposed 10,000MW mega dam project will not only submerge villages downstream and displace the tribals but also wipeout the entire establishment of society. It will have future consequences which can’t be corrected. Moreover, it will also affect neighbouring state Assam in many ways,” he said.
Pangkam also informed that he recently attended the United Nations South Asia Forum on Business and Human Rights (UNSAFBHR) programme held in Nepal, where he apprised the matter to the members. He also appealed to the UN working groups, international environmentalists, and indigenous people’s agencies to voice for the cancellation of the proposed dam on the Siang.
SIFF said it is against mega dams, however, if government rethinks about small dams in consultation with locals, then they may amend their decision.
Meanwhile, representative of Indigenous Rights Advocacy Dibang (IRAD), Advocate Ebo Milli said that the foremost tactic of any government is to declare the forest area under wildlife or reserve. This allows them to have rights on the land and later according to their will they propose hydro projects in the place.
He said no indigenous of the state ever thinks of exploiting their ancestral land. Every tribe of the state has its own ancestral land which the state government can’t use for their personal benefit.
“Unless orest clearance is given from the state government, no such huge hydro projects can be implemented. So, declaring forest area under wildlife and reserve is the first step towards obtaining huge hydro projects in the state,” he said, adding that the government never seeks permission from the locals settled in the area.

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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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