ITANAGAR, Mar 20: The Save Arunachal Save Indigenous (SASI) has said that it will resort to a series of democratic movements in case the state government fails to bring Arunachal Pradesh constitutionally under the provision of Article 371 (H).
The SASI also demanded the de-reservation of reserved forest areas.
Addressing the media person at the press club here today, Vice Chairman SASI-  Romjir Rakshap said the organization is thankful to the Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who took cognizance of the matter and assured to constitute an independent high power committee to further discuss on the matter. He also requested Minister for Law & Justice Kiren Rijiju to take forward the matter once the recommendation for the amendment of the article is received in his office from the state government.
SASI also thanked Congress MLA Ninong Ering for raising the matter in the Assembly session.
“It should be clear with the state government that SASI has been working on the amendment of the article. Therefore, if the state government fails to provide justice to the people of the state, SASI will resort to rigorous democratic movement in order to safeguard the state,” he said.
Speaking on the Dereservation of Reserved forest area in the state,  Spokesperson SASI, SD Loda said that during the NEFA times the entire forests in the foothills were declared reserved forest. Eventually, today there are numbers of overlapping forest issues in the state due to it.
He said prior to the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, lots of forest were declared reserve forests by the then government officials who went on claiming reserve forest up into the foothills without being aware that someday the tribal population will grow and spread.
“However, SASI is content to learn that the concerned Environment & Forest department is aware of the matter and is taking cognizance of it. It was informed to us that the CM has written to the respective DCs to exercise to de-notify the reserved forest area,” he said. He said the matter is important and concerning in terms of the future developments in the state. 
Therefore, he appealed to the people to stick to the respective area of the present settlement and not encroach the reserved forest area after knowing the de-notification process.
“We oppose the complete de-reservation of notified forest areas but welcome the action where there is human settlement. The process should benefit the public at the same time it should not impact the wildlife,” he said.
SASI will be monitoring the de-reservation process, he added.
He said the respective DCs should submit the de-notification report of reserved forest to the PCCF so that the state government can take instant cognizance of it. Accordingly, the final report can be forwarded to the central government.
Meanwhile,Chairman  SASI Debia Muj said that these two issues were the prime focus of the organization. And therefore, if the matter is cleared in days to come, he will dissolve SASI.
Further, he said that the assurance by the CM and the Cabinet ministers should not just be a ‘lip service’, and should seriously take up the matter.  
Earlier, on March 16, Congress MLA Ninong Ering issued a notice, stating that “A resolution may be adopted in this august house that the status of Arunachal Pradesh under Article 371 (H) designated to the power and function of the governor without power to the state of Arunachal Pradesh”.

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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.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
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