Dibrugarh: After initial hesitancy, most villagers in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang belt have come forward and extended their support for the Pre-Feasibility Survey (PFR) to be conducted for the proposed 11,000-megawatt Siang Upper Multi-Purpose Project.
Declared a project of national interest, state-owned power developer NHPC has been tasked with constructing the mega dam on the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang and Siang districts.
Earlier, villagers were reluctant to part with their land, leading to protests and opposition, some of which turned violent.
However, as the government and administration in the Siang region engaged with local communities in a more proactive manner, a majority of villagers in the likely affected areas have now consented by signing MoUs for the conduct of the PFR by NHPC and the authorities.
The government has clarified that if the PFR report is negative, the project will not proceed and will be closed. A visit to the Siang region was undertaken to understand the shift in villagers’ stance, during which several locals were spoken to.
It was found that villagers have agreed only to the PFR, and the future of the project will depend entirely on its outcome.
Meanwhile, the administration has been urged to strengthen awareness efforts regarding the project.
“There is no tourist place in Siang and if the dam is constructed, then it can become a tourist place and people will come here. Employment generation will happen if the dam comes up,” said a local resident.
Another resident said, “Many are not signing the PFR because they think that if the PFR is feasible, then the government can force them. Many have signed the MoU for PFR, not for construction.”