[ Marina Dai ]
ITANAGAR, 14 Sep: Villagers from Komkar and villages in and around Uggeng staged protests at two separate locations across Upper Siang and Siang districts on Monday, opposing the proposed conduct of pre-feasibility report (PFR) activities in Uggeng, one of the proposed dam sites of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).
Villagers of Komkar staged a protest at Konggong Lingkok, known locally as Uggeng, one of the proposed SUMP dam sites located on the left bank of the Siang river at Komkar village.
Meanwhile, villagers from Riga, Pangkang, Sitang, Riew and Begging staged a protest on the right bank of the Siang river at Uggeng, opposing the proposed conduct of PFR activities.
The protests were organised to oppose the proposed drilling activities at the site. The government is expected to begin the PFR activities in October, following the signing of an MoU for the PFR earlier.
The villagers are opposing the proposed arrival of drilling machines at the site, which are expected to be brought in around the end of September or in the coming months.
The protests were held as villages in and around Uggeng sought to register their opposition to the proposed drilling activities and the conduct of PFR activities at one of the proposed dam sites.
Locals of Komkar village have also questioned the manner in which the MoU was signed, alleging that the government did not properly address their concerns or provide adequate reasons for proceeding with the agreement.
According to the villagers, three rounds of meetings were held at the village level with the local administration and community leaders. They questioned why the MoU was signed despite these consultations, and said that no clear justification or authenticity of the agreement has been disclosed to them.
The villagers also claimed that no necessary clearances for the proposed project have been obtained so far.
Some residents further alleged that the MoU was signed in the name of beneficiaries for activities such as agriculture, horticulture and fisheries, rather than through a transparent process concerning the proposed project.
The villagers maintained that their concerns should be addressed and clarity provided regarding the MoU, the proposed project, and the planned PFR and drilling activities before such activities are taken forward.
Ahead of Monday's protest at Komkar village, the Upper Siang district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) across the Komkar Lingkok drilling/PFR site and its peripheral areas. The order, issued by District Magistrate Talo Jerang on 13 September, cited intelligence inputs that groups opposing the SUMP might stage protests and disrupt activities at the site. It prohibited gatherings of five or more people, rallies, marches, and meetings without prior permission, while directing police and executive magistrates to strictly enforce the order, leading to the deployment of additional paramilitary and police personnel in the area.
Earlier, on 7 September, the Upper Siang district administration had imposed similar restrictions in Geku under Section 163 of the BNSS, citing concerns over possible law-and-order issues linked to opposition to the proposed SUMP. The order said the administration had received inputs that anti-dam protesters could attempt to target or vandalise the houses and properties of people who had signed MoUs with the government for the proposed PFR activities. It also referred to concerns over intimidation, threats or coercion of residents supporting the project, and cited the 8 June incident in Geku as part of the backdrop for the preventive measures. The order prohibited assembly of five or more people, carrying lethal weapons and organising public meetings without prior approval, and barred intimidation or coercion of people perceived to be supporting the PFR activities. The district magistrate directed the superintendent of police and executive magistrates in Geku to enforce the order and take preventive measures to maintain law and order.
