Itanagar: The Magong Banggo Students’ Union (MBSU), along with local student organisations and residents affected by the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), held a peaceful rally at Pegging-Bote in Riga in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang district on Wednesday.The protesters demanded the withdrawal of security forces, a halt to pre-feasibility report (PFR) activities and the release of seven detained persons.The rally began at 9 am under the slogans ‘Our Land, Our Rights, Our Future’ and ‘Save Our Land! Save Our Future!’. It brought together members of the Riga Students Union, Pangkang Students Union, All Sitang Students Union, Parong Students Union and the Magong Banggo SUMP-Affected Public.The protesters submitted a five-point charter of demands, seeking the immediate withdrawal of armed forces from the Magong Banggo jurisdiction, particularly from VKV Pegging-Bote, the Ugeng PFR site and the Parong PFR site. They also demanded free medical treatment for those injured in the Oct 4 incident, compensation for vehicles allegedly damaged during the incident, an immediate suspension of PFR activities until the free and prior consent of affected villagers is obtained, and the unconditional release of seven persons detained under the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014 (APUAPA).The rally was led by MBSU president Talik Tatin, general secretary Kaling Jamoh and issue chairperson Keng Taduk.The protest comes amid mounting opposition to the proposed SUMP, a mega hydropower project planned on Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh.The proposed 11,200-MW project has emerged as a point of contention between govt’s push for hydropower development and sections of indigenous communities concerned about the potential impact on ancestral land, livelihoods, the environment and their cultural heritage.Protest against the project has intensified in recent weeks over the proposed PFR surveys and drilling activities, which are intended to assess the project’s technical feasibility. Residents and local organisations have questioned the consultation process and demanded that survey work be suspended until the concerns of affected communities are addressed.
