3 days ago
Khandu Invites Siang Farmers for Talks; Forum Seeks Delay
The government wants to meet with a farmers’ group to discuss a proposed hydropower project.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu invited the group to meet on October 5.
The group, called SIFF, asked to meet after October 11 instead.
It said it needs time to discuss the project and survey with its members.
Some people in the Siang area oppose the proposed survey and want wider discussions first.
SIFF’s spokesperson said villagers had not received enough information and questioned claims about how many households agreed to the survey.
Khandu said the survey would only check whether the project is technically possible.
He said the government hopes talks can help find a way forward.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu invited the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) to talks scheduled for October 5.
The meeting was set for 2:30 pm at the East Siang deputy commissioner’s office conference hall in Pasighat.
SIFF asked to defer the meeting until after October 11, saying it would deliberate internally from October 4 to 11.
Opposition to the proposed pre-feasibility report survey for the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project has intensified in parts of the Siang belt.
Khandu said the survey would assess technical feasibility, while SIFF’s spokesperson called for better outreach and disputed information about household consent.
- Who
- Chief Minister Pema Khandu and the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF); local legislators and an MP representing the Adi community were also expected to participate.
- What
- Khandu invited SIFF to discuss issues concerning the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project and its pre-feasibility report survey; SIFF requested a later meeting.
- Where
- The conference hall of the East Siang deputy commissioner’s office in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh.
- When
- The meeting was scheduled for October 5, while SIFF sought to hold it after October 11.
- Why
- The talks concern opposition to the proposed survey and calls for wider consultation before it proceeds.
Government
SIFF and local concerns
Timing of talks
Government
Khandu invited SIFF to meet on October 5 and said the government hoped dialogue could find an amicable way forward.
SIFF and local concerns
SIFF asked to hold the talks after October 11 so it could deliberate internally and decide its collective position.
Proposed survey
Government
Khandu said the pre-feasibility report survey would only determine technical feasibility and that no further process would follow if experts found the project infeasible.
SIFF and local concerns
Opponents want wider consultations before the survey proceeds; SIFF’s spokesperson also alleged inadequate outreach and disputed information about household consent.
Key facts
- Proposed meeting
- October 5 at 2:30 pm
- Meeting venue
- East Siang deputy commissioner’s office conference hall, Pasighat
- Government invitees
- SIFF president and 15 delegates
- SIFF request
- Defer the talks until after October 11
- SIFF deliberations
- Scheduled from October 4 to 11
- Survey purpose, according to Khandu
- To determine whether the project is technically feasible
Quotes
Tagori Mize
Spokesperson for the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum
“The forum will sit together and collectively decide its position. At present, it is too early to comment on what we expect from the meeting.”
theprint.in
Sources
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