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‘Won’t tolerate attempt to force our consent’: Arunachal dam protests intensify after decision to send central forces

Protesters from project-affected villages hold demonstrations, write to Centre and state seeking withdrawal of forces from Siang region

In its application submitted on December 12, Haryana argued that the Shanan project, located on the Uhl River—a tributary of the Beas—also feeds the Bhakra Dam. (File Photo)

Protests against the proposed 11,000-megawatt Upper Siang hydropower project by residents of affected areas in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang and Upper Siang districts are gaining steam after the state government’s decision to deploy Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in a bid to begin survey work to prepare a pre-feasibility report.

On Sunday, residents of Riew, Geku and Boleng villages, all of which will be affected by the proposed dam, conducted a large demonstration with the slogan ‘No Dam, No Survey’ at Parong village – one of the three proposed project sites along the Siang river.

Activists and local

residents have long been opposing the proposed dam, fearing displacement as well as considering the environmental impact of the mega project.

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Also Read | Why locals are protesting against the Upper Siang hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh

Earlier this week, representatives of residents of different affected villages had written to both the Union Home Ministry and the Arunachal Pradesh government opposing claims recently made that the majority of residents support the project.

Amid the ongoing push by authorities to get the ball rolling on the project, Chief Minister Pema Khandu had chaired a meeting with other ministers and legislators from the Siang and Upper Siang districts, after which he said that there was “unanimous support from the representatives” of both district and that they had “resolved to expedite the construction of the project”.

In their letter, the residents rejected the claims of support and wrote, “…we request that a referendum be conducted, including involvement of a foreign third party as a witness signatory, wherein only the project-affected votes will be counted and decided”.

The current wave of opposition to the project has been spurred by the state government’s decision to deploy nine companies of CAPFs as well as additional police forces at the proposed project sites and at the offices of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) – which is to build the project. This move is in a bid to begin surveys for a pre-feasibility report in the area, a preliminary analysis to assess the probable cost of a project and its feasibility – something that authorities have been trying to push through this year but was stalled by local resistance.

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In their letter, the residents demanded that this deployment be rolled back.

“We demand that any decision regarding the deployment of armed forces in the Siang region be made with the consent of the majority of project-affected families. We will not tolerate any attempts to coerce or force our consent regarding the dam. Therefore, we demand the immediate withdrawal of any paramilitary or military forces from the Siang region, as their presence is illegal and unconstitutional. We will not be intimidated or coerced into accepting a project that threatens our very way of life,” they wrote.

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