Arunachal Pradesh: Opposition Grows Against 12,500 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project

ITANAGAR: The proposed 12,500 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh's Siang district has triggered strong opposition from local communities, who are concerned about displacement and environmental harm.

The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is undertaking the project, which includes the construction of a dam on the Siang River at three proposed locations: Dite Dime, Parong, and Uggeng.

To support the preparation of the project's pre-feasibility report, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will be stationed in the district. However, this decision has faced strong opposition from the local residents of the district. The locals alleged that the deployment was an attempt to militarize the region.

Protesters have warned that the project threatens the region's ecology and the livelihoods of its inhabitants. Estimates indicate that nearly 1 lakh residents could be impacted, with many at risk of displacement.

Local organizations, such as the Siang Indigenous Farmer’s Forum, have voiced their concerns and demanded the immediate withdrawal of CAPFs. The project is being touted as a strategic measure to counter China’s hydropower developments on the Tsangpo River.

Protesters, however, argued that the project's environmental and social consequences far outweigh its strategic advantages.

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