The villagers of the Siang district have expressed their opposition to the visit of Rural Development Minister Ojing Tasing to the proposed survey site for the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP). They assert that the government is ignoring their objections and advancing development projects without adequate consultation.
The Siang District Indigenous Farmers’ Forum (SDIFF) contends that the minister’s intention is solely to engage with villagers who have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government in favor of the SUMP. Meanwhile, the All Riew Students’ Union (ARSU) has denounced the signing of the MoU by Riew villagers for the preparation of the pre-feasibility report (PFR) for the proposed SUMP, arguing that the process was not transparent.
The union has called upon all stakeholders, including the government and project authorities, to recognize the community’s concerns and to reassess the procedure through which the MoU was executed.
