Siang mega dam row: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu calls for consensus, invites opposing groups for talks

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has called for consensus on the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) and invited organisations opposing the mega dam for talks, following a violent confrontation between protesters and security personnel during a 12-hour bandh in the Siang belt on October 23.

At least four women were injured in the clash at Dite-Dime near Geku in Siang district, where police fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters opposing the proposed 11,200-MW project, officials said.

The shutdown, called by several organisations opposing the project, disrupted normal life across Siang and Upper Siang districts and parts of East Siang district. Shops and business establishments remained closed, while residents largely stayed indoors.

According to officials, around 150-200 protesters from Geku and Komkar areas of Upper Siang district gathered at Dite-Dime around 7 am. Police alleged that the protesters attempted to breach barricades, damage police vehicles and pelt security personnel with stones while carrying machetes, lathis and slingshots.

Siang Superintendent of Police Kamdam Sikhom said the protesters attempted to vandalise barricades, hurled stones and violated prohibitory orders. He said legal action was initiated in the presence of an executive magistrate.

Four women were injured during the confrontation and admitted to a hospital, another police officer confirmed. Protesters, however, alleged that several people were hit by tear gas shells and suffered breathing difficulties during the police action.

Organisations seek release of arrested activists

The bandh was jointly called by Adi Bane Kebang United, the SUMP Affected Area Youth Association, the Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum Youth Wing and the Adi Galo Welfare Society.

The organisations are demanding the release of 10 arrested activists, reinstatement of suspended gaon buras (village headmen), withdrawal of all pre-feasibility activities related to the project and removal of paramilitary and central forces deployed in the region.

The protesters' demands reflect continuing opposition among sections of local communities to the proposed hydropower and water-storage project, particularly over concerns about its potential impact on land, livelihoods and the environment.

Sikhom said the bandh was being observed peacefully in other parts of Siang district. Upper Siang Deputy Commissioner Ashok Tajo also said the shutdown was proceeding peacefully in his district.

Why the Siang project faces opposition

The proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, with a planned capacity of 11,200 MW, is a major infrastructure proposal in Arunachal Pradesh's Siang river basin. The project has drawn opposition from sections of indigenous communities concerned about its possible social, environmental and livelihood-related consequences.

The state government has maintained that the project is primarily intended to store and regulate water in the Siang basin, particularly in view of concerns over China's proposed mega dam upstream on the river.

The dispute highlights the challenge facing authorities in the Northeast as they seek to advance large infrastructure projects while addressing concerns raised by indigenous communities over land, environmental protection and the future of their settlements.

Khandu's call for talks comes amid the need to resolve the differences through dialogue and prevent further escalation in the region. The proposed discussions are expected to bring the government and organisations opposing the project to the negotiating table.