Polluted Siang waters: Ering seeks compensation

From our correspondent

Itagar, Dec 14: Lok Sabha MP from Aruchal Pradesh Ninong Ering on Thursday pleaded Union Minister for Water Resource Arjun Ram Meghwal to provide compensation to the farmers and fishermen of Assam and Aruchal Pradesh for the loss incurred due to contamition of water of Siang and Brahmaputra rivers.

Ering, the Congress MP from Aruchal East Parliamentary constituency, during a meeting with Meghwal requested him to look into the matter of water contamition of Brahmaputra and Siang rivers at the earliest.

He also requested the minister to grant compensation to Aruchal Pradesh and Assam as the river is the lifeline of both the States, Ering stated. “I have requested the minister to provide compensation to both State governments in order to help the local fishermen and farmers to overcome their losses,” he said.

The minister, however, assured to take cognizance and look into the matter without any delay. He also said a number of associated ministries will also look into the issue, Ering said. Ering also wrote to Home Minister Rajth Singh to look into the issue of river contamition.

Ering on November 25 last, in a letter to Prime Minister rendra Modi, had requested him to take up the matter of unusual receding of Siang river and a sudden change in its water quality with Chi.

Ering said that the recent report of Chi constructing a tunnel of 1,000 km to divert the Siang (Brahmaputra) water to the Xinjiang province to the Taklamakan desert is likely to be true although Chi had denied it. The Congress MP further said there is no other reason for the mighty Siang getting dirty and contamited but due to heavy land excavation in Chi, which needs to be verified by an intertiol team. He also appealed to the Exterl Affairs and Water Resources Ministry to expedite measures for checking the diversion.