ITANAGAR, 30 Jul: The United Arunachal People’s Forum (UAPF) has announced a peaceful mass public march in support of its three-point charter of demands.

The march will begin from Akashdeep Bazaar and proceed to the tennis court near IG Park on 3 August.

Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club on Thursday, UAPF convener Charu Govin said that the prepaid smart metering system has become a major burden on economically weaker households. He claimed that many families are unable to recharge their meters immediately after exhausting their balance, resulting in disruption of electricity supply.

“We have demanded that the state government scrap the smart meter system from the state,” he said.

He alleged that the service and convenience charges imposed on prepaid recharges have added to the hardship of consumers, particularly elderly citizens and residents of remote areas who have limited access to digital payment facilities.

Demanding free electricity of up to 1,000 units per month for all domestic consumers, especially in village areas, he stated that Arunachal Pradesh’ vast hydroelectric potential should directly benefit its people. “While other states can provide free electricity even without hydroelectric projects, why not Arunachal Pradesh?” he added.

Highlighting the forum’s third demand – de-reservation of some parts of the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) and a few kilometres of its adjoining areas – he claimed that due to reservation under forest land, many human settlements are unable to obtain legal documents for their land and also fail to carry out any developmental activities on private land.

He stated that, in 1979, while Arunachal was still a union territory, large parts of the present-day ICR were declared as Durpang Reserved Forest and Wildlife Sanctuary under the Forest Department.

He urged everyone to come and join the peaceful march, saying the issues are genuine and of concern to all.