Scientists Urge Halt to Siang Upper Multipurpose Project Over Ecological Concerns

Call for Suspension of Project Activities

A group of 114 scientists, researchers, and practitioners has requested an immediate suspension of all construction, surveys, and pre-clearance activities associated with the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh, citing significant ecological, cultural, and socio-political risks.

The Siang River, which originates from Tibet, is a major tributary of the Brahmaputra and is the proposed site for the ambitious 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, which is being promoted as India's largest dam.

Local residents have voiced their opposition to the project for several years. Members of the Adi tribe, residing in the Siang basin, argue that the project threatens their land and traditional way of life.

In a statement released on Monday, the collective emphasized that the community's resistance reflects a deep understanding of the ecological, cultural, and socio-political implications of the project.

The statement highlighted that the Siang River, referred to as 'Ane' or Mother Siang, holds sacred significance and is integral to the cultural identity and livelihoods of the Adi tribe.

“The construction of hydropower facilities, including tunneling, road blasting, and reservoir creation, would disrupt the Adi people's connection with Ane Siang,” the statement warned.

The collective pointed out that past displacements have often resulted in long-lasting socio-economic challenges, with compensation mechanisms failing to recognize non-monetary values such as land-based identity, ecological knowledge, and customary rights.

Furthermore, the communities in the Siang Valley rely on over 250 species of wild plants and animals for their subsistence, medicinal needs, and cultural practices.

“The region is also known for its unique and sophisticated system of terraced wet rice cultivation practiced by the indigenous Adi communities,” the statement added. “The Upper Siang Dam would inundate many of these terraces and disrupt irrigation systems, leading to a permanent loss of farmland and traditional knowledge.”

The collective also noted that the proposed site for the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project is located in Seismic Zone V, which is classified as the highest risk category for earthquakes according to the Bureau of Indian Standards.

“Constructing large dams in such zones heightens the risks of earthquake-induced landslides, dam failures, and reservoir-triggered seismic activity,” they stated. “Additionally, climate change has exacerbated the frequency of glacial lake outburst floods, cloudbursts, and slope failures in the area.”

They also mentioned that the Siang River's origin in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China adds a layer of strategic importance.

“Upstream hydropower and water diversion initiatives by China on the Yarlung Tsangpo have raised concerns regarding sediment flow, seasonal discharge, and water availability,” the statement noted, adding that large infrastructure projects like the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project are often framed as strategic countermeasures.

“However, these projects disproportionately impact local communities in Arunachal Pradesh,” the collective asserted. “The implementation of such projects without broad-based consent erodes trust in governance and democratic institutions.”

The statement further indicated that the project violates the 2006 Forest Rights Act, the 2002 Biological Diversity Act, and various international environmental and Indigenous rights agreements.

They urged both the central and Arunachal Pradesh governments to fully recognize community forest and resource rights under the Forest Rights Act.

Overview of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project

The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project was initially proposed in 2017 by Niti Aayog, a public policy think tank of the Union government.

The dam is intended to counter the potential threat posed by Chinese hydropower projects on the Yarlung Tsangpo river upstream, as outlined in a 2022 report from an Indian inter-ministerial technical committee.

The Brahmaputra, known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, is significant for its origins.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu has defended the dam as a protective measure for the Adi tribes against a massive 60,000 MW Chinese dam that has yet to be constructed.

Khandu claimed that the Chinese government, which is not a signatory to international water conventions, “plans to divert water from the multiple reservoirs created under the project to arid regions of Tibet and beyond,” potentially reducing the water volume in the Siang.

He stated that the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project aims to maintain the river's natural flow year-round and provide “flood modulation” in the event of significant water releases by China.

However, local residents remain skeptical of the government's assurances and fear losing their ancestral lands and way of life. Representatives from the villages expressed: “The Siang region's land consists of loose sedimentary rocks and is located in a [fragile] seismic zone, making the feasibility of dams questionable.”

The Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum, a group of agriculturists from the Adi community leading the protests, estimates that around 40 villages along the Siang River in Siang and Upper Siang districts would be impacted by the proposed dam.