Guwahati: Human Rights of Arunachal (HRA) on Thursday backed local communities opposing the proposed 11,000MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) and called on the state and Central governments to immediately stop pre-feasibility surveys and drilling in Siang and Upper Siang districts.
HRA chairperson Kipa Kaha referred to recent protests in Uggeng and nearby areas, saying indigenous communities remained concerned about the possible environmental and social effects of the project.
Describing the Siang River as vital to Arunachal Pradesh, Kaha said it supports farming, biodiversity, cultural heritage and indigenous identity. He said projects involving ancestral territories should be carried out with respect for human rights, dignity and environmental safety.
Protection of tribal land, homes and traditional livelihoods was among the issues raised by the organisation. HRA also pointed to possible seismic and environmental dangers, including ecological damage and increased disaster risks in the fragile Himalayan region.
Questions were also raised about the information available on the project. HRA said project reports could not be accessed, environmental impact assessments were unavailable and details of rehabilitation plans for affected villagers were unclear.
The organisation wants both the state and Central governments to stop ground activities in places where opposition from local communities has not been settled.
It also sought independent and comprehensive studies of geological and seismic risks and asked authorities to consider smaller, decentralised hydropower options instead of dam projects.
HRA has asked Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who is also the state’s hydropower minister, to step in and help reduce tensions. It also wants a transparent system for discussions with villagers affected by the project.
HRA called on elected representatives from the Siang belt and organisations such as AAPSU, Adi Students’ Union and Abotani groups to hear the concerns of the affected communities and bring them before the authorities.
The organisation said its objection was not to development itself, but to projects undertaken without sufficient consultation, environmental protection measures and respect for indigenous rights.