HOLLONGI, Sep 10: The hundreds of indigenous Peoples of Hollongi, Kokila and Balijan area under Balijan administrative circle of Papum Pare district on Saturday carried peaceful Dharna here at Hollongi Airport Road demanding renaming of Donyi Polo Airport, Hollongi instead of Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar. The Dharna was Organizated by Hollongi Indigenous Peoples Forum (HIPF).
HIPF Chairman Tana Puna Tara inform the media that after getting air news about the renaming of Green field Airport to Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar and its is something unfair made to the indigenous people of the area who has been always stand for the development of the state including the construction of airport in the area parting their valuable land for the purpose. We have never opposed any development project in the area since time immemorial. Said Puna.
We had submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khnadu 2 month back and our Local MLA Tana Hali Tara, and all the panchayat leaders of area aware and Cabinet decision came against our repeated appeal. He said.
Again on August 29 we had submitted remainder and held press conference at Arunachal press Club (APC) regarding our demand
But the state government is not ready to hear the voice of indigenous Balijan Circle. We were eagerly waiting that something a supportive decision may would be taken by the state government even after we tried to voice our genuine demand through media but the decision is something which is hurting the sentiments, emotions of local public especially, who donated their land in very low cost for Airport expecting, that we losing our agriculture land but our Hollongi name will be remain in nation. He said.
The indigenous people of Balijan Circle are welcoming to the idea of naming the decorative word “Donyi Polo” but our concern is to just include the name of Hollongi instead of Itanagar.
So that name of Hollongi should be alive which is our pride and identity which have attachment spiritual endowment from the time of our fore-father’s day, time immemorial, also it was politically identified the golden name Hollongi during NEFA period, the indigenous tribal peoples are settled down in the foothills vicinity before pre-Independence days. He said.
And the Airport is located in Hollongi, under Balijan Circle of 14th Doimukh Constituency and Papum pare district and Itanagar comes under 13th Assembly Constituency and separate deputy commissioner and under separate administrative jurisdiction how can government changing the name of location? We failed to understand the intension of the state government, said, Yowa Anthony, Youth from Hollongi.
We appeal to the State Government to rename as Donyi Polo Airport, Hollongi by curving out the word Itanagar immediately and our democratic movement will be continue till our demand fulfill, if require the added.
