Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu has called Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) for talks on Oct 5 amid continuing protests against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).The farmers’ body, however, has sought that the meeting be held after Oct 11, saying it needs time to build a collective position within the forum.The meeting assumes significance as opposition to the proposed pre-feasibility report (PFR) survey for the mega hydropower project has intensified in parts of the Siang belt.According to a communication issued by the chief minister’s office (CMO) on Oct 1, the talks were scheduled for 2.30 pm at the conference hall of the East Siang deputy commissioner’s office in Pasighat.The CMO invited the SIFF president along with 15 delegates for discussions on ‘vital issues’. MP and legislators representing the Adi community were also expected to participate.SIFF spokesperson Tagori Mize, however, said on Saturday the forum sought to hold the talks only after Oct 11.Mize said SIFF would hold a series of internal deliberations from Oct 4 to 11 to discuss the project and the proposed PFR survey before arriving at a collective stand.“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,” Mize said.He also linked the recent unrest and incidents of violence in parts of the Siang belt to what he described as inadequate outreach by political representatives and poor communication with villagers over the proposed project.Mize further alleged that incorrect information had been circulated about the number of households that had consented to the PFR survey.Opposition to the survey has grown in parts of the Siang belt, where sections of the local population have demanded wider consultations before govt proceeds with the exercise.Khandu said govt was looking forward to engaging with SIFF and hoped dialogue could help find an amicable way forward.The CM has maintained that the proposed PFR survey is only meant to determine whether the project is technically feasible and has said there would be no further process if experts conclude that it is not feasible.
