ITANAGAR, Aug 8 (PTI): People of three villages in West Siang
district of Arunachal Pradesh have threatened to boycott the
Lok Sabha and assembly elections due next year, if the
government fails to construct a permanent bridge over a river,
a key demand of them since 2014.
The villages – Rime Moko, Pidi Rime and Todi Rime – have a
population of nearly 400 and approximately 300 of them are
voters. The northeastern state has a population of only 13.84
lakh, according to the 2011 census.
There is a makeshift bridge – a 20-metre odd log with a rickety
wooden railing on one side for a user to hold – made by locals,
but this is of no use during the monsoon as it goes below the
rising water level of the Hijum river, a tributary of the Pisam.
“When the river is in spate, parents don’t send their wards to
schools. They fear that the children might slip off the log
bridge,” said Pokpe Rime who lives in Rime Moko village.
It is also extremely difficult to take a patient to a hospital in the
absence of a proper bridge, monsoon or not.
“We have to carry patients on our back and cross the log bridge
over the river to the Nikte primary health centre or the Aalo
General Hospital,” Pokpe said.
The road connectivity issue is also affecting the area
economically and socially, people of the villages feel.
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Residents of Rime Moko, Pidi Rime and Tode Rime villages
recently discussed the issue among themselves and resolved to
urge the state government to construct an all-weather road
from Pidi Rime to Hijum and a permanent bridge over the river.
They also sought improvement of the existing PMGSY road
from Tabasora to Rime Moku and development of another road
from Nyorak to Tode Rime, via Pidi Rime.
“If the state government fails to fulfil our demands, we will
resort to democratic agitation and if necessary, we will go to
the extent of boycotting the upcoming Parliamentary and
assembly elections,” Rime Moko ‘gaon burah’ (village head)
Gambin Rime said.
Pidi Rime village head Pokjo Rime said they have requested the
local MLA about their requirements twice – once after his
election in 2014 and also during his second term in 2019, but in
vain.
“Our last hope is to request Union minister Kiren Rijiju (who
hails from Arunachal Pradesh),” Pokjo Rime said.
The villages come under the Aalo West Assembly constituency
and Arunachal West Lok Sabha constituency.
Union Earth Science minister Kiren Rijiju is the local MP while
state Industries Minister Tumke Bagra represents the assembly
seat.
“We are suffering due to neglect by the elected
representatives. Our area is neglected maybe because the
population is less,” Pokpe claimed.
“We are helpless. If the bridge is washed away, the people of
the villages will not be able to see each other. Even
schoolchildren will have to sit home idle,” said Gram Panchayat
chairperson Domin Rime.
The existing PMGSY road from Tabasora to Rime Moko,
constructed in 2001-2002, is not motorable now and the road
has not been repaired or maintained for a long time, he said.
Minister Bagra, when contacted, said no developmental work
could be taken up due to Covid-19.
“Most of the funds were used for procurement of vaccines,
equipment and medicines by the state government,” he said.
No money was available under Special Infrastructure
Development Fund (SIDF), the two-time BJP legislator said
adding that he would try to construct the bridge under a
scheme.
Bagra, however, added that it is difficult as not even a year is
left for the polls.
He declined to comment on the call for boycotting the general
and state elections.
