Photo Courtesy: nenow
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein is calling for talks with groups fighting the Siang Multipurpose Project. State officials claim the focus remains on community discussion rather than immediate construction. The government maintains a unified front. “There is no difference of opinion on this issue from my side. I stand with the people of Arunachal Pradesh,” Mein said. He insists the state has only pursued pre-feasibility studies to evaluate the dam's viability.
Resistance from local tribal Adi communities remains fierce. The proposed 11,200 MW hydroelectric project threatens to submerge 27 villages. Critics argue the project is dangerous in a high-seismic zone. They point to potential environmental destruction and displacement. Security forces have tightened their grip on the region. Ten to 12 companies are now deployed in the Upper Siang district.
Violence broke out on October 23. Protesters burned the office of developer NHPC and damaged two MLAs' homes. Police have since filed eight cases and arrested 26 people. Four protesters face charges under the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Local activists remain defiant. “We cannot hold peace talks at gunpoint,” said Opek Taku, a local resident. Protesting groups are now boycotting government meetings until all detainees are released.
The state government has issued Memorandums of Understanding to various villages. These documents claim consent for study purposes only. Many residents reject the offer of cash compensation. They view their ancestral land as irreplaceable. A 300-kilometer march continues across the region. Tensions show no sign of fading.
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