Arunachal Pradesh parliamentarian Ninong Ering rejected outrightly Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Arjun Ram Meghwal’s statement that the causes behind Siang river turning black and muddy could be natural, and described the minister’s claim as absurd.
Ering reaffirmed, “The Siang river flows crystal-clear during winter, and I have never seen the waters black in my entire life”.
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 also requested the Prime Minister to seek the reason for the river turning muddy in this season, when the water is usually crystal clear.
He emphatically 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 further claimed.
He urged the Centre to take the matter very seriously.
The Union Minister had earlier claimed that a preliminary study has found that the water of the Siang river, which originates in southern Tibet and becomes the Brahmaputra upon entering Assam through Arunachal Pradesh, is turning black due to a recent earthquake in the region. Meghwal has said,“We have been getting reports of pollution in the river and its water turning black. The Central Water Commission (CWC) has started looking into the matter recently and people have been sent to the internal areas”. He added that according to the preliminary findings, the path of the river was temporarily obstructed after an earthquake in Tibet on November 17 last. “There is a strong possibility that the colour of the river’s water has changed due to natural reasons,” the minister further claimed.
Meanwhile, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) also rubbished the statement of the Union Minister.
AAPSU President Hawa Bagang termed Meghwal’s statement as hilarious and devoid of any scientific explanation, adding that the statement once again reflected the Central Government’s insensitive attitude whenever China is involved in an issue.