Siang Valley:New Delhi India has deployed paramilitary troops in parts of its northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh amid protests against a proposed mega hydropower project near the Chinese border. The deployment follows a protest last week in the Siang Valley, which borders Tibet, during which four women were injured during a clash with police, according to reports.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, the protesters were opposing the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), a proposed 11,200-megawatt project, saying the dam would submerge ancestral villages, destroy farmlands, displace large populations, and disrupt livelihoods. Police reported that protesters vandalized police vehicles and pelted stones at security personnel.
The project was first proposed as a national project by the Congress-led government in 2008 and has since emerged as one of Arunachal Pradesh's most contentious infrastructure proposals. The Siang River project is strategically significant for India, particularly in light of China's plans for a major hydropower project upstream on the same river. India views the proposed dam as a major water storage facility to regulate river flows and strengthen the country's water and energy security.
The proposed project, to be developed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, has faced opposition from local communities, particularly members of the Adi tribe. The Adi Bane Kebang Youth (ABKU), a local grassroots movement, has warned that the dam could submerge several villages and cause extensive losses. This week, it demanded the immediate release of its workers detained or arrested in connection with the protests. Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang has called for the immediate cancellation of the proposed dam.
In response to the protests, the Arunachal Pradesh government has attributed growing apprehensions about the project to what it described as "misinformation and misconceptions." Chief Minister Pema Khandu held a meeting with various groups to discuss the project and strengthen efforts to spread awareness across the state. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein explained how India's proposed dam could help address concerns arising from China's planned 60,000-MW hydropower project upstream.