Sonapur: Strong opposition was voiced in Sonapur on Monday as hundreds of people joined a protest against a proposed high-voltage electricity transmission project that would involve the installation of power towers across 12 villages in the Nartap area.
The demonstration was led by the Amri Karbi Students’ Association, along with five other tribal organisations. Protesters marched from Digaru Baligate to the office of the Dimoria Sub-Divisional Commissioner, holding placards and banners and raising slogans against the proposed installation.
According to the protesters, the planned transmission towers could have an impact on homes as well as agricultural land in the predominantly tribal area. They alleged that tribal communities have repeatedly faced land acquisition for different development projects and expressed concern that the latest proposal could further affect their residential areas and livelihoods.
The organisations called on the government to reconsider what they described as anti-tribal decisions and urged the authorities to ensure that development projects do not come at the cost of tribal residential and agricultural land.
The protest march ended at the Dimoria Sub-Divisional Commissioner’s office, where representatives submitted a memorandum addressed to the government through the sub-divisional administration.
The protesters also cautioned that they would step up their agitation if the government failed to respond to their demands in the coming days.
