ANYA slams Assam Forest officials for ‘stopping’ PMGSY work

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: The All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) criticized the Assam Forest officials for “illegally stopping” the ongoing construction of a Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) road near Bogoli-Denka in Doimukh circle of Papum Pare district. As per ANYA, construction work of the PMGSY road measuring 18.60 km from the Lekhi village of Doimukh circle to Buka-II village in Kimin circle, has been halted following the hindrance put in by the Forest officials from the neighboring State.

ANYA president Byabang Joram claimed that this is not the first instance of Assam Forest officials causing hindrance and obstruction in developmental works in the name of a boundary dispute and reserve forest.

“Our people, especially those living in the inter-state boundary areas have already been facing untold miseries when they travel through the roads of Assam, particularly during strikes and protests. Moreover, our people have been living in the boundary areas for decades, so we don’t understand how they can be treated as staying in reserve forests or have illegally occupied Assamese land,” Joram said.

“We understand that status quo should be maintained by both sides; however, it has been seen in Bogoli and Denka areas that the Assam forest officials have occupied land, fenced it and also constructed forest beats near the boundary. This is a violation of the status quo as well,” Joram alleged.

Joram said that though the boundary issue case is in the court of law, development activities should be taken due care of as it is in the greater interest of the people.

Terming Assam as a big brother to Arunachal, the ANYA president further said: “We have never created disturbances in any of the activities of our neighbor state and always maintained a cordial relation. The administration and forest officials should understand the need of human being as a road will benefit not only the Arunachalees but also the Assamese people who live in the boundary areas.”

Meanwhile, Joram, along with the executive members of his union and other organizations of Doimukh and Kimin circles visited the construction site and met the locals of Bogoli-Denka and Buka villages and interacted with them.

The ANYA members assured the villagers that they would discuss the matter with the State Government so that work along the road begins soon.

Kimin Additional Deputy Commissioner Likha Tejji, officials of the RWD and executing agency accompanied team ANYA during the visit.

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