Massive Protests and UAPA Detentions Hit Hydropower Project in Arunachal Pradesh

Authorities in Upper Siang have banned groups of five or more people from gathering following sharp protests against the planned Siang Upper Multipurpose Project.

Arrests And Protests

This strict order came on October 11, just two days after police detained four demonstrators under the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Local anger against the massive 11,000 megawatt hydropower dam grew sharply after Chief Minister Pema Khandu visited the district earlier this month. People living in the Siang, Upper Siang, and East Siang districts are strongly opposing the dam because its construction will submerge 27 villages, including Yingkiong, which serves as the Upper Siang district headquarters.

Demands From Groups

On October 13, three civil groups called the Adi Banne Kebang United, the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum Youth Wing, and the SUMP Affected Area Youth Association gave a formal memorandum to Upper Siang District Collector Ashok Tajo. They condemned police actions and demanded that authorities free the arrested protesters right away. Protests turned intense after police allegedly used lathis against demonstrators on October 4, following incidents where protesters burned vehicles and stormed a local MLA's home. The groups want all Central Armed Police Forces removed from Siang and Upper Siang, all dam viability studies stopped, and all legal actions against protesters dropped. Goto Apang, who leads the SUMP Affected Area Youth Association, questioned how peace could return through such detentions. District Collector Ashok Tajo stated that the area remains peaceful and noted that detainees must approach the state government to challenge their detention orders.

Foreign Funding Claims

Authorities have also accused the protest movement of receiving foreign money. The Central Bureau of Information served a notice to Bhanu Tatak, who works as a legal advisor for the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum, for allegedly breaking the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act by taking 17 lakh rupees without proper registration. The protests are aimed at stopping the NHPC from carrying out a pre-feasibility study to check if the dam site is viable, which is one of the final steps needed to finish the detailed project report.

Context

Large infrastructure projects like major dams often spark intense local opposition when they threaten to displace entire communities and submerge local villages. Local residents frequently rely on grassroots civil society groups to voice their concerns and organize collective resistance against government-backed development plans. Tensions tend to rise sharply when authorities respond to civil unrest with legal measures and restrictions on public gatherings.