Guwahati: The proposed 12,500 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang district has sparked intense protests from locals over the fear of displacement and environmental damage.
The project, undertaken by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), involves constructing a dam on the Siang River at three proposed sites including Dite Dime, Parong, and Uggeng.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
To facilitate the project’s pre-feasibility report, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will be deployed in the district.
Also Read: Assam: Gauhati HC allows abortion for 26-week pregnant minor rape survivor
This move, however, has been strongly opposed by locals in the district.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
The locals claimed that the deployment was an attempt to militarize the area.
The protesters claimed that the project would harm the region’s ecology and people.
According to estimates, nearly 1 lakh residents may be affected by the project, with many facing displacement.
Also Read: Assam-origin terrorist gets life sentence for plotting terror attacks
Local organisations, including the Siang Indigenous Farmer’s Forum, have voiced their concerns and demanded the immediate withdrawal of CAPFs.
The project has been touted as a strategic move to counter China’s hydropower projects on the Tsangpo River.
However, protesters stated that the project’s environmental and social impacts outweigh its strategic benefits.