SIFF opposes 10,000 MW power project over Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh

Organisations in Siang in Arunachal Pradesh have opposed setting up of the 10,000 MW power project over Siang River.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu along with his state cabinet colleagues recently attended a presentation by NITI Aayog on proposed Multipurpose River Valley Project for Siang River.

CEO NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant urged on the need to make the project viable and feasible for the people of Arunachal Pradesh. The proposed project is estimated to be 300 metre high dam with power generation capacity of 10000MW. Being a multipurpose project, it will moderate flood and erosion providing relief in downstream river reaches of Arunachal and Assam.

Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum ( SIFF) has opposed the project and stated NITI Aayog has decided to merge Stage I and Stage II of the power project over river Siang, which will submerge over 100 villages and affect lakhs of people and their livelihood in Siang river valley in the state as well as in downstream areas of Assam.

SIFF general secretary Tasik Pangkam said, “The people of Arunachal Pradesh were deceived by the NITI Aayog. BJP led government in Arunachal Pradesh had also supported the NITI Aayog’s decision for petty political interest. The Siang River is the lifeline of Adi people living in the Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. Since time immemorial, the Siang River is attached with the Adi people, their culture, history, tradition, folk literature and everything.”

He added, “We the Adi people worship and believe that land is the gift from nature or God. So no amount of compensation will suffice and there is also lurking danger of wiping out the rich cultural heritage and history of people in such eventuality in Siang Valley and in Assam.”

The project is proposed at Siang Stage-II location, which will be built as a single storage project instead of earlier proposed two separate projects Stage-I and Stage-II on Siang river thereby reducing the cost of project by 25% and increasing the storage capacity of the dam.

The state will benefit through its 12% free power share that comes to about Rs 2400 crore per annum as revenue. Another Rs 200 crore per annum will be added through its 1% free power share, which will be used exclusively for local area development.

According to state government besides Rs 4500 crore proposed for Rehabilitation and Relief package, the project will attract an investment of about Rs 80000 crores with huge employment generation and creation of several economic opportunities.