NHRC seeks Arunachal Pradesh report on protests in opposition to Siang Upper venture

The fee cited a media report of May 23 on a human rights activist and convenor of the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum main a protest by 400 folks in opposition to the dam building in Beging village.

In an announcement, NHRC stated it had taken suo motu cognisance of the report “that the residents are opposing the proposed construction of a dam, apprehending that it may result in the displacement of several people and adversely impact livelihood and ecology in the Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh”.

“Reportedly, to deal with the situation, the government has deployed central armed forces in various areas of the Siang district in the State,” the assertion stated.

The fee stated that the media report, if true, elevate severe considerations of potential human rights violations and sought detailed reviews from the chief secretary and the director common of police inside two weeks.

The fee’s choice to pay attention to the protests comes days after a consultative assembly on the contentious venture spiralled into chaos on May 27 as villagers opposing the mega hydropower venture clashed with safety forces and disrupted the proceedings.

Days later, chief minister Pema Khandu stated the venture was nonetheless on the stage of a pre-feasibility report (PFR) and that the federal government would go forward with the venture “based on the will of the people”.

Khandu additionally reiterated that the venture was of strategic significance and never simply aimed toward producing electrical energy. “China’s upstream hydropower plans are a serious concern for India. Unregulated release of water could cause massive flooding in Siang valley and parts of Assam. Conversely, if water is withheld, the Siang may dry up during winters,” he warned.