| Staff REPORTER |
ITANAGAR, Oct 27: Amidst the sustained opposition against the mega dam project in the Siang region, Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) president and MLA Nabam Vivek has urged the state government to withdraw paramilitary forces deployed in the Siang belt in connection with the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) pre-feasibility report (PFR) activities, release those arrested during protests and prioritise dialogue with affected communities.
Addressing the media at his chamber in Doimukh on Tuesday, Vivek said confrontation with local residents would not help achieve development, particularly in the case of a sensitive project such as SUMP.
He expressed concern over the government’s approach to addressing the apprehensions of indigenous communities likely to be affected by the proposed hydropower project, saying it could undermine the project’s prospects.
According to Vivek, constructing a project of such magnitude without the support of local communities would be difficult. He questioned the intensity of the government’s actions at the pre-feasibility report (PFR) stage, saying it raised concerns about the approach adopted by both the state and central governments.
Vivek said the government should first withdraw paramilitary forces from the area, release those arrested and transparently explain the project’s objectives, benefits and implications to the affected people.
He stressed that building public confidence through dialogue and clear communication was essential to addressing concerns surrounding the proposed project.