Residents in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kamle district have strongly voiced their opposition to the proposed creation of the Raga Reserve Forest, issuing a strict seven-day ultimatum to local authorities to address community concerns or face widespread democratic agitations. Led by the Raga Proposed Reserve Forest Affected People Forum (RPRFAPF), local stakeholders are demanding the immediate cancellation of the forest proposal alongside a transparent, open public consultation involving affected villagers, village leaders, and forest officials. During a strategic meeting chaired by forum chairman Himi Passa, participants adopted key resolutions outlining a multi-phase agitation plan across the Raga forest range within the Hapoli Forest Division. Addressing media personnel following the proceedings, Passa alleged that the Forest Department initiated the reservation process entirely without the knowledge, prior consent, or involvement of local residents and traditional village authorities in the Raga block. Questioning the unilateral actions of the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Hapoli Forest Division and the Range Forest Officer (RFO) of Raga, Passa criticized the complete omission of grassroots stakeholders from the decision-making pipeline. The forum has called upon the Kamle Deputy Commissioner to convene an urgent joint meeting with the DFO, RFO, and representatives of the affected indigenous population within seven days to formally address these grievances. Passa revealed that despite approaching the Deputy Commissioner’s office four times previously to request a constructive dialogue, the affected communities have received no formal response from the administration. The forum warned that if the district administration fails to facilitate this mandatory consultation within the stipulated timeframe, local residents will launch a sustained democratic movement, holding the designated forest officials strictly accountable for any disruptions or fallout stemming from the agitation. Furthermore, the forum resolved to organize a series of public demonstrations stretching along the key corridor from Tamen bridge point to Godak village in Kamle district if the state authority fails to retract or reconsider the proposal. Demonstrating broad regional solidarity, the strategic meeting drew attendance from key local governance figures, including the Raga Zilla Parishad Member (ZPM), several Gaon Panchayat Chairpersons (GPCs), Gaon Panchayat Members (GPMs), and impacted villagers across multiple neighboring settlements, all asserting their customary rights over forest lands and demanding immediate administrative intervention.
