Arunachal locals oppose NHPC survey for mega-dam project

GUWAHATI: Protests erupted in the Dite Dime area of Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday against the proposed 12,500 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).

The locals are opposing the mega hydropower project on river Siang citing that it is a threat to their land, livelihood, environment and way of life. Dite Dime, Parong and Uggeng are the three proposed sites of the project.

Over 600 locals staged the protests against the “forceful survey-cum-pre-feasibility report (PFR)”. They shouted slogans against the government and the NHPC. The protests were organised by All Adi Welfare Society, Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum and Banggo Students’ Union.

The Parong village committee had on Friday lodged a complaint with the Siang superintendent of police against the NHPC for “forceful implementation” of the PFR, which is seen as a prelude to the dam’s construction. The committee said the survey was against the consent of the people who would be affected by the project.