Guwahati: Protests broke out on Saturday in the Dite Dime area of Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, against the proposed 12,500 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
Residents are opposing the mega hydropower project on the Siang River, citing concerns that it poses a threat to their land, livelihood, environment, and traditional way of life. The project is planned across three sites: Dite Dime, Parong, and Uggeng.
Hundreds of locals gathered to protest against the “forceful survey-cum-pre-feasibility report (PFR)” being conducted for the project. Demonstrators voiced their opposition through slogans against the government and NHPC. The protests were spearheaded by the All Adi Welfare Society, Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum, and Banggo Students’ Union.
In the wake of the protests, the North East Human Rights, a rights group based in Itanagar, condemned an order issued by the EAC (Aniyang Ratan) of Upper Siang district, which instructed government employees and officials not to participate in any protests against the proposed dam.
The rights body criticized this directive, arguing that it infringes on the constitutional rights of HGBs, GBS, and PRI leaders and violates the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which India has endorsed.
The group stressed that any such project must secure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) from the affected communities, as stated in their official release.
