Mass protest erupts in Arunachal's Tawang over alleged irregularities in PWD tendering

Thousands of residents from the 2-Tawang Assembly Constituency staged a peaceful mass protest on Tuesday, March 17 against alleged corruption, procedural lapses, and lack of transparency in the tendering process under the Public Works Department (PWD) Tawang Division.

The protestors assembled near the iconic Buddha Statue in Tawang before marching in an orderly procession towards the offices of the Executive Engineer (EE), PWD, and the Deputy Commissioner. Demonstrators voiced strong resentment over what they described as opaque functioning and arbitrary decision-making within the department.

According to the protestors, the agitation was triggered by the issuance of tenders worth several crores under schemes such as SIDF and RE, allegedly without adherence to established norms and procedures. Participants claimed that multiple works were floated without ensuring transparency, raising concerns about possible irregularities and misuse of public funds.

A key point of contention highlighted during the rally was the alleged lack of communication with the local legislator. Protestors asserted that the area’s MLA had not been informed about ongoing works or developmental proposals, which they said undermines democratic accountability and effective representation of public interests.

The demonstrators emphasized that all development initiatives must be carried out in consultation with elected representatives to ensure transparency and safeguard the interests of the constituency.

As part of their demands, the protestors called for the immediate transfer of Executive Engineer Er. Tadar Nyakpu and Assistant Engineer Er. Jumpe Ete, along with the initiation of a departmental inquiry into the alleged irregularities. They also sought the cancellation of recent Notices Inviting Tender (NITs) issued on February 11 and March 5 and 13, 2026, and demanded the implementation of transparent tendering procedures for all projects exceeding ₹50 lakh.

A memorandum outlining these demands was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner. The protestors have issued a one-week ultimatum to the authorities to take concrete action, warning that failure to respond within the stipulated timeframe would lead to the launch of an indefinite democratic movement.

The rally concluded peacefully, with organizers reiterating their commitment to non-violent means of protest while pressing for accountability and transparency in governance.