Hundreds stage protest in Komkar village

 

ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Dec 18: Amid rising tensions over the proposed 11,500 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), Chief Minister Pema Khandu emphasized that misinformation by individuals and activists from outside the Siang districts is misleading local villagers.
Responding to media queries, CM Khandu clarified that he has consistently engaged with villagers in the Siang region over the past one year  and shared  information about the SUMP whenever he made a visit to the Siang belt. "Some activists from outside the Siang districts are creating confusion among the villagers. However, I hold no personal grievance against them. India is a democratic country, and everyone has the right to express their views," said the Chief Minister.
Khandu also highlighted the significance of the SUMP, describing it as not just a dam but a large and vital Multipurpose project for the region and for the state. He reassured that the government is committed to transparency and has a duty to address concerns. "I will personally visit Siang to engage in discussions and provide clear information about the government's perspective on the SUMP," he added.
However, ahead of the Chief Minister's visit, tensions escalated in Komkar village of Siang district, where hundreds of villagers holding placards, and banners protested against the proposed dam and the alleged forceful deployment of paramilitary forces in the region. Protesters burned effigies of political leaders to express their anger.
A senior resident of Komkar stated, "Our village has about 2,000 people, and 95% of us are against the dam." Another villager voiced concerns about the loss of ancestral lands, saying, "We cannot allow our lands to be submerged. If the government wants to deploy forces, they should do so at the borders, not in our villages."

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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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