ITANAGAR, Jul 26: To take stock of the current on-ground situation in the flood affected areas of Sigar and Namsing, a team of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) led by its General Secretary Tobom Dai and members of the All East Siang District Students’ Union (AESDSU), AdiSu, ABSU, Bosing Students' Union, LBSU and AMCSU visited the areas on Sunday. 
The team commenced the tour from Sigar village where they found that the marauding Siang river is just a few meters away from the village school and any further rise in water level may lead to a complete washout of the school building. 
After assessing the Sigar situation, the team visited the block point of the Mebo-Dhola road between Namsing and Kongkul villages where surface connectivity has been totally snapped by 500 meters in length by the Siang waters including parts of Paglam Circle of Lower Dibang Valley district with similar threat looming large over the downstream villages. Like the previous monsoons, this year too hundreds of hectares of agricultural land have gone under water compelling people to relocate to safer places. After making a first-hand assessment of the situation and interacting with the affected villagers, the AAPSU GS has appealed to the state government for an immediate intervention and a mega financial package for a comprehensive solution to the yearly flood problem. “Since the Siang flood issue is a yearly recurring problem and its magnitude is beyond the capacity of the local people, District Administration and even the local MLA to deal with, state government’s intervention is the need of the hour,” the apex union opined, adding that without this the people of lower Mebo comprising several villages will be subjected to such annual torments.

 Explaining the rationale behind the mega financial package demand, the union asserted that the area needs to be protected since it is one of the few places which is endowed with rich fertility and also ranks as one of the highest rice producing regions in the state.
“The 35 Cr project has failed to withstand the flash floods and the region needs a mega flood protection project so that the recurring flood problem could be solved permanently,” Dai reasoned.
It can be recalled that the apex union of the state two years ago had raised the issue of Siang water turning muddy with unusual high tide due to manipulation by China in the upper ridges. They also visited the Primary School at Sigar and said that the education department must make an alternative arrangement for the students. 
The team lauded the villagers of Sigar, Namsing and NGO SEEANG led by Retd. Group Captain Mohanto Panging who are engaged in voluntary flood protection works. AAPSU PR 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
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