23 villages back solar project in Borjan Constituency

Residents affected by the Solar Project address the media at Lang-ik LP School playground in Hidipi, Karbi Anglong, on Wednesday. (EM Images)

• DIPHU — In a show of collective support, residents from 23 villages affected by the proposed solar project in Borjan MAC constituency voiced their approval during a press conference held at the Lang-ik LP School playground in Hidipi on Wednesday.
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• Speaking to the media, Moon Moon Katharpi, a local resident, stated, “We convened this meeting because we’ve noticed a troubling trend of individuals from outside our area—who have no direct connection to our land or the solar project—opposing its development. Representatives from the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, APDCL, and even international agencies have been visiting our villages for over a year. Every two to three months, they have conducted surveys and engaged with us. All 23 villages involved have raised no objections to the project.”

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• Katharpi underscored that the villagers view the project as a major opportunity for regional development. “Project representatives have promised meaningful support to the local community, including livelihood assistance through weaving, animal rearing, pig farming, and the development of schools, roads, water systems, and electricity.
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• “They have agreed to work alongside us, and most of the land involved—around 80%—is wasteland, much of which has been illegally occupied by encroachers,” she said.
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• “This project represents a light of hope for us. It is our chance to finally see progress for our people. That is why we strongly oppose the interference of outsiders like Rajen Timung from the Indigenous People’s Party (IPP) and Bikramsing Hanse from the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC). They are not from our village and do not speak for us. Their claim that 20,000 people live in this area is completely false and politically motivated,” she added.
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• Katharpi concluded by affirming the right of the local people to determine their own future: “We know our village. We know what’s best for it. No outsider has the right to dictate what happens in our home.”
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• Notably, the proposed solar project site is located in Borjan MAC constituency, bordering Nagaland. The project has drawn some opposition from political groups like IPP and APHLC, despite the overwhelming support from the directly affected communities.