ITANAGAR, Dec 5: Member of Parliament Ninong Ering refused to buy into Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal’s statement that the causes behind Siang River turning black could be natural, and described the minister’s claim as absurd.
“The Siang flows crystal-clear during winter, and I have never seen the waters of the Siang turning black in my entire life,” Ering said.
The MP, who brought the Siang river issue to the notice of the Prime Minister, noted that the water of the river changing its colour is a strange and unusual phenomenon that has not occurred in the last 100 years.
In his letter, Ering requested the Prime Minister to seek the reason for the river turning muddy in this season, when the water is usually crystal clear.
Ering claimed that the water in the Siang has been contaminated, which has affected the aquatic life and livestock not only in Arunachal Pradesh but also downstream in Assam.
“Moreover, migratory birds have not been seen this year in Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary. In the previous years, migratory birds were seen in the sanctuary during November-December,” the MP claimed.
He urged the Centre to take the matter very seriously.
According to PTI, the union minister on Monday said that as per preliminary study, the water of the Siang River is turning black due to a recent earthquake in the region.
He added that “there is a strong possibility that the colour (of the river’s water) has changed due to natural reasons.”
The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) also ridiculed the statement of the Union Minister.
AAPSU President Hawa Bagang dismissed the minister’s statement as hilarious and bereft of any scientific backup, adding that the statement once again reflected the central government’s callous attitude whenever China is involved in an issue.
“The Siang’s water turning muddy has been in the news for many days, and several Siang-based organizations have raised serious concern over the development. But till today there is no concrete step taken by the state government as well as the central government to allay the fears of the denizens of Siang valley,” the AAPSU leader said.
AAPSU General Secretary Tobom Dai said, “The mighty Siang is not the only biggest river in the state but is the epicenter of Adi civilization. The river Siang, which we consider ane (mother), has been inspiring folklores, songs, and hymns since ages for the Adi, which is one of the major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.”
Dai said that the unnatural behavior of the river has endangered many aquatic lives, “and there is every chance of flora and fauna getting affected along the course of the river. This development has created psychological angst among the Adi.”
The union has demanded immediate corrective measures by the union government “so that the people know the exact cause of the unnatural development.”
