World · India Bureau
Arunachal Pradesh groups call shutdown over Siang project arrests
Indigenous organisations in Arunachal Pradesh have announced a coordinated shutdown across three districts in response to the arrest of anti-dam activists. The protest marks an escalation in the long-running dispute over the controversial Lower Siang hydroelectric project.
LSN India ·
Social and environmental groups in Arunachal Pradesh have announced a shutdown across three districts as a show of solidarity with activists arrested during ongoing demonstrations against the Lower Siang hydroelectric project. The SAAYA collective said the shutdown would take place in the affected districts, halting commercial and educational activities to draw attention to what organisers describe as heavy-handed police action against protesters.
The arrests have intensified tensions surrounding the multi-billion rupee dam project, which has faced sustained opposition from local communities, indigenous groups, and environmental advocates since its conception. Protesters have raised concerns about the project's impact on the Siang river ecosystem, downstream communities, and the livelihoods of those dependent on the waterway.
The shutdown call represents a significant mobilisation of regional civil society groups opposed to the project's implementation. Organisers have framed the action as necessary to protect democratic rights and ensure the voices of affected communities are heard in ongoing deliberations over major developmental initiatives in the northeastern state.
The Lower Siang project, backed by government authorities as crucial to India's renewable energy goals, continues to remain a flashpoint between development interests and local environmental and community concerns in Arunachal Pradesh.