GBs on warpath against shifting of Siang district hq

Correspondent
PASIGHAT, Aug 29: Fifty-two gaon burahs (GBs) serving under Pangin and Kebang circles under Siang district have tendered their resignation in protest against state government’s reported move to shift the district headquarter of Siang from Pangin (Perang-Lampang) to Boleng.
The GBs alleged that the state government had earlier issued notification to set up district headquarter of Siang at Pangin town, but later, the cabinet took the decision to shift headquarters from the present location to Boleng town without taking the local people of Pangin sub-division into confidence.
The GBs further stated that the process for shifting district headquarters, which was already notified by the government, is inconsistent, illegal and politically motivated.
“The state cabinet on 12 March this year adopted the decision to shift the headquarters from present location to Boleng by superseding the earlier notification and without any valid reason”, they said.
The foundation stone of Siang district headquarter was laid at Pangin town by former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki three years back.
Since then, district level offices of the newly created district have been functioning at Pangin without any issues, they claimed.
The GBs further informed that the local residents of Pangin had destroyed valuable property to donate their land for establishment of district headquarters, and lamented that the authority has failed to realize it.
“We have sacrificed a lot for the establishment of the district headquarter at Pangin as per government notification, but the state government has changed the decision to shift the headquarters without the people’s consent, thereby betraying the local people,” said Pangin Head Gaonburah Tameng Messar.
The GBs have also submitted their resignation along with uniforms and other items to the Siang additional deputy commissioner’s office on Monday.
The GBs and several other local organizations have called a 72-hour Pangin area bandh since Wednesday morning and cautioned the authority of indefinite movement if their demand is not reciprocated.
However, Siang ADC Tarik Talom has not accepted the resignation tendered by the GBs. He has urged them to avoid such protest to get their demand fulfilled and requested protesting GBs to reconsider their decision.