Arunachal bandh over Siang dam project, protests against CAPF deployment

Guwahati: Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) and the SUMP Affected Area Youth Association with the support of various student unions and community-based organisations, enforce a 36-hour bandh in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

The 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in Arunachal Pradesh is facing massive protests. The shutdown covered Siang, Upper Siang and East Siang districts.

The organisations stated that the protest is against the detention of people who had earlier protested the project. The organisations also criticised deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel in the project-affected areas.


The association said the movement was aimed at protecting ancestral land, the Siang River and the interests of future generations, adding that the issue was closely linked to the preservation of Adi identity and traditional ways of life.

Prohibitory orders were imposed following the protest against the proposed Upper Siang Multipurpose Dam in Arunachal Pradesh. Violent protests took place at Pasighat in East Siang district attacking residences of political leaders and setting fire to an NHPC office, a police station.

The violence which started on October 23 continued till the morning of October 24.

Over 75 individuals have been arrested or detained in Arunachal Pradesh in connection with violent protests against the proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project.

On October 26 there were protesters against the 1,605-MW Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project (SUHEP), known as the Menga Dam.

The Centre had rushed two companies of the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) Rapid Action Force (RAF) to Arunachal Pradesh. A senior officer in Arunachal Pradesh said around 250 RAF personnel are deployed.

Arunachal Pradesh is trying to convince that Chinese are building mega dams in Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh needs to fast track its hydro power projects.

Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu had said that the Siang SUMP should not be viewed merely through the prism of a conventional hydropower project, but as a national project with wider strategic and security implications.

He had emphasized that the issue was not about his personal interest or that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but about India’s national security and defence preparedness.

Addressing an interaction programme with government officers and officials of Siang district at Boleng recently, the Chief Minister said the Preliminary Feasibility Report (PFR) is expected to take only three months, covering November, December and January, after which there would be greater clarity on the feasibility, location and technical parameters of the proposed project.

Referring to the large water infrastructure project announced by China in 2021, the Chief Minister said India and Bangladesh had sought details and discussions from the Chinese side regarding the project and water-sharing concerns, but those requests had not been accepted. He also referred to existing water-diversion routes in China and the proposed diversion of water towards its northern dry belt.

Khandu had said the proposed SUMP therefore needed to be examined scientifically and technically rather than being accepted or rejected without adequate assessment.

The Chief Minister had assured that the government would undertake extensive consultation with affected communities if the project proceeded beyond the feasibility stage.