ITANAGAR, September 30: Indian Youth Congress National General Secretary and North East Youth Congress Coordination Committee Chairman Tarh Johny has questioned the Arunachal Pradesh government’s approach to the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), calling for greater consultation with affected communities and stronger attention to infrastructure and security preparedness in the Taksing frontier area.
In a statement issued on September 30, Johny criticised the government’s handling of the SUMP process and alleged that concerns of affected indigenous communities should not be overridden through administrative pressure or the deployment of security forces. He called for dialogue, transparency and meaningful consultation before decisions affecting local communities are taken.
Johny said the SUMP process should involve consultations with affected villages and indigenous institutions, along with disclosure of the project’s potential environmental, social, land and livelihood implications. His comments come amid continuing opposition from sections of the local population to the proposed project’s pre-feasibility activities.
Questioning the government’s priorities, Johny asked why similar urgency was not being given to concerns over security and infrastructure at Taksing. He called for stronger roads, communications, logistics, patrol infrastructure and security facilities in the frontier area.
On reports concerning Chinese activity around Taksing, Johny said the matter should be addressed through transparent and credible verification. Earlier this month, the Indian Youth Congress had also demanded a factual report from the Union government and security agencies regarding reports of alleged Chinese activities in the area.
The issue has also seen differing public claims. While local groups have raised concerns about alleged activities around Taksing, the matter has been disputed publicly, making verification and clear communication important in assessing the situation.
Johny further said security personnel should not be placed in circumstances where their presence is perceived by indigenous communities as being connected with the implementation of a development project against their wishes.
The IYC leader called for a genuine public dialogue with communities affected by SUMP, transparency regarding project-related activities and security deployment, full disclosure of the project’s potential implications, and strengthened border infrastructure and security preparedness at Taksing.
The remarks come as the state government continues to coordinate the SUMP Preliminary Feasibility Report (PFR) survey. The State Cabinet recently constituted an Empowered High-Level Committee to guide and coordinate the survey in Siang and Upper Siang districts, stating that the process should be conducted in a transparent, peaceful and people-centric manner.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on September 29 that the PFR is an initial technical assessment and does not amount to final approval for construction. He also said social and environmental implications, rehabilitation and resettlement, land and livelihood concerns and other issues would need to be examined before any decision is taken.
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