Correspondent

PASIGHAT, 6 Oct: Chief Minister Pema Khandu sought the support of PRI leaders from East Siang district to conduct the pre-feasibility report (PFR) for the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).

He urged them to convince the aggrieved villagers in the project affected areas to allow PFR works, stating that drilling and testing of underground rocks in the Siang riverbed during the survey would not affect their lives and properties.

On Monday, the chief minister held an interactive meeting with the PRI leaders of the district to seek their support for conducting PFR studies for the mega dam project, which is facing stiff opposition from villagers in the affected areas in Siang and Upper Siang districts.

Speaking to the media, Khandu said the state government is willing to hold negotiations with the protesting organisations and clear their queries and confusion over the hydropower project.

"The state government will initiate public hearings along with social and environmental impact assessments of the proposed mega project after completion of PFR works," he said.

The chief minister reaffirmed that "the project may be scrapped if the PFR is found unviable."

Khandu said he suspects the hands of miscreants behind the prevailing tension in the affected areas, claiming that they [miscreants] are spreading misinformation among villagers and instigating them against the proposed project. He warned of stern action by the state government against the 'miscreants'.

However, leaders of Adi community organisations dismissed Khandu's claim, stating that the tension was created by the "forceful approach" of the state government.

During the meeting, representatives of Adi Bane Kebang urged the chief minister to withdraw central armed forces from the SUMP site to create an atmosphere conducive to negotiation on the mega dam issue with the affected villagers.

On the other hand, representatives of the East Siang Downstream Dam Affected People's Forum, led by its president Oni Tamuk placed a 21-point charter of demands before the chief minister. The forum sought a tripartite agreement (MoA) among the state government, NHPC and their organisation, besides fulfilling other demands, such as impact assessment, fair compensation policy, job reservation for local youths and measures to mitigate the dam's impact in downstream areas.

The meeting was attended also by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, MP Tapir Gao, minister Ojing Tasing and MLAs of the Adi belt.