Politics · India Bureau
Adi community escalates resistance to Arunachal Pradesh dam project
Indigenous Adi people in Arunachal Pradesh are mounting fierce opposition to the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, citing threats to their ancestral lands and way of life. Tensions have intensified as authorities employ force to quell protests and advance the controversial scheme.
LSN India ·
The Adi community in Arunachal Pradesh has intensified its resistance to the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, claiming the dam would devastate their homeland, destroy traditional livelihoods, and erase their distinct civilisation. The agitation has turned confrontational as State authorities deploy police force to suppress dissent, leading to violent clashes between protestors and security personnel.
Community representatives allege that State government officials have resorted to deceptive practices, coercion, and intimidation to secure consent for the project's feasibility study. They contend that genuine community approval has not been obtained, and that the consultation process has violated their rights to free, prior, and informed consent.
The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, a hydroelectric scheme in the northeastern state, remains one of India's most contested infrastructure initiatives. Environmental and social impact assessments have raised concerns about displacement, ecological damage, and threats to indigenous populations in the region.
The escalating tensions reflect broader anxieties among Arunachal Pradesh's indigenous communities regarding large-scale development projects. Activists argue that such schemes frequently prioritise economic benefits over the rights and welfare of local populations who bear the direct consequences of implementation.