Hundreds descended last month in the area around the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh to protest strong against the government’s plans for a giant dam. Demonstrators, including members of the Adi tribe, carried slogans that read, “No dam over Ane Siang [Mother Siang].” This river is held sacred for centuries and forms the lifeline of farmers in this region.
The proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, costing a proposed $13.2 billion, would be built to provide a reservoir capacity for nine billion cubic meters of water with production of 11,000 megawatts-electricity production higher than that of any other hydroelectric project currently operating in the country. Although feasibility studies have taken place since its 2017 proposition, local villagers caution it places at least 20 villages underwater and will displace thousands of people.
The state government, run by the BJP, has deployed paramilitary forces amidst growing local resistance, but no clashes have been reported so far. Construction of the dam will destroy the homes and heritage of their community, say leaders of the community. “This is our land, and we can’t let it be turned into an industrial zone,” Gegong Jijong, president of the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum said.
Contrarily, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu insists that the project will benefit the region, framing it not merely as a hydro dam but as a means to protect the Siang River.
The Siang River is also emblematic of the bigger geopolitics between India and China. The Siang, which originates in Tibet as the Yarlung Zangbo, has become a focus point of the growing competition over water and security between India and China. Not long ago, for example, China announced an ambitious dam on the Yarlung Zangbo, forcing New Delhi to contemplate countermeasures.
Experts say construction of big dams in the seismic active region is extremely risky. The two big dams could actually jeopardize the lives of millions of people who are living nearby, considering the history of devastating floods and earthquakes.
The issues involved transcend the interest of the nations and spill over into the indigenous communities and their ancestral lands. As tensions rise, the urgency for an all-encompassing dialogue among all stakeholders, including the downstream countries like Bangladesh, grows more and more pressing. The situation well illustrates how disputes over water resources could further worsen geopolitical friction and affect millions of people dependent on such life-giving resources.
While protests continue in Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang River remains poised between the development ambitions and the voices of those who call it home.
