Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Sunday formed a fact-finding panel to evaluate areas that could be affected by the proposed 11,000-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).APCC president Bosiram Siram announced the panel following protests by project-affected indigenous communities and reports of paramilitary deployment in the Siang region.“The issue of mega hydropower projects must not be viewed solely through a political lens. It directly concerns ‘jal’, ‘jameen’, jungle, ‘jati’ (water, land, forest, and identity) and our collective existence as indigenous communities,” Byaling said.APCC working president Tanga Byaling will head the committee, with senior leader Takam Sanjoy as vice-chairperson and Tami Pangu as member secretary. Daniel Gao and Johny Yangfo will be members.According to a party statement, the panel will conduct village-to-village visits across East Siang, Siang and Upper Siang districts to assess the project’s social, environmental and livelihood impacts. It will document grievances related to land acquisition, rehabilitation and local security arrangements before submitting a report within 15 days.A sub-committee led by Pangu, with representatives of district Congress committees, district tribal councils and village units, will coordinate community interactions.Byaling appealed to political parties, civil society groups, student unions, Adi Bane Kebang, Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum, village elders and Panchayati Raj representatives to join the initiative. APCC asked each organisation to nominate a representative within three days.
