Police allegedly fired tear gas at protesters in the East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, according to demonstration participants, after tensions escalated over a proposed 11,000-megawatt hydropower project on the Siang River. Residents responded by blocking the road to the project site with boulders and temporary structures, further intensifying a standoff that has simmered for two years. The project, conceived as part of the government’s broader hydropower expansion strategy, has faced sustained resistance from communities along the Siang Valley.
Displacement Concerns for Multiple Villages
Protest leaders claim more than 27 villages could be displaced or affected, with approximately 1.5 lakh people in the surrounding area at risk of losing their homes, agricultural land and traditional livelihoods. A complete assessment of the project’s impact would require official surveys and project documentation, which protesters say have not been adequately shared with local residents. Dikant Libang, information secretary of the Siang Indigenous Farmer Forum, said villages including Beging, Parong, Sitang, Riga, Ponakang, Jorkong, Ponakang Kumko, Jengging, Karko, Gosang, Ramsing, Moying, Bomd, Janbao, Puging, Likor, Gette, Yingkiong, Simong, Haleng, Komkar, Geko, Geku Kumku and Chumsing face potential displacement. Most are inhabited by members of the Adi tribal community, which numbers around 76,000 people across five districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
Community Perspective on the Protest
The protesters maintain their objection is not primarily about money. Libang said the Siang River supports not just irrigation and fishing but also sustains forest resources, social traditions and tribal culture. “Whether someone is offered Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh or Rs 2 lakh, our main issue is not just money. It is about our land, our villages and our future,” he said. The movement has also drawn context from China’s plans for a major hydroelectric project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which shares hydrological ties with the Siang.
Safety and Environmental Concerns
Beyond displacement, residents have raised questions about dam safety in a region vulnerable to seismic activity. Protesters argue that the topography of the Siang Valley, river dynamics and earthquake risk must be thoroughly examined before construction proceeds, warning that structural failure or emergency water releases could cause catastrophic damage downstream. Members of the forum say they are not opposed to development in principle but are demanding transparent consultation, independent scientific assessment of environmental and social impacts, guaranteed protection of indigenous rights and a clearly defined rehabilitation policy before any further steps are taken on the project. They have called for all impact studies, rehabilitation plans, compensation frameworks, environmental risk assessments and documents related to indigenous rights to be made public. According to protesters, multiple memoranda of understanding concerning the project have been signed over the years, but residents have not been fully briefed on their contents or implications.
Current Situation and Outlook
Security arrangements in the area have been strengthened in response to the heightened tensions. Local sources said an Indian Tibetan Border Police team has arrived in the region. The blockade of the access road remains in place. With the situation in the Siang Valley remaining volatile, creating conditions for renewed dialogue is increasingly seen as the most urgent step to prevent further escalation.