'No to risky 11,000 MW hydroelectric project': Call to protect Siang river

Beverly Longid, Jiten Yumnam*  

The civil rights network, International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), has voicesd its support for the residents of Siang District, Northeast India, as they resist the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation's (NHPC) efforts to monopolize the Siang River for its Upper Siang Hydroelectric Project, a massive undertaking proposed at 11,000 MW. 

On August 31, a demonstration was held in Siang District, led by farmers, students, and Indigenous communities opposing NHPC's aggressive surveying efforts. Local residents criticize these actions as lacking proper consultation and consider them a blatant disregard for Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC), as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), to which the Indian government is a signatory. 

If approved, the main dam would become the largest in the Indian subcontinent, positioning itself as a competitor to China's hydropower initiatives along the Tsangpo River, which flows through Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh. The Siang River, which traverses Southwest China, Northeast India, and Bangladesh, plays a crucial role in maintaining the regional ecosystem. 

The proposed hydropower project poses risks to local wildlife and habitats. Additionally, around 300 members of the Adi Indigenous community face potential displacement due to this project, endangering their way of life and cultural practices linked to the river. 

Various community organizations have condemned NHPC's actions through numerous statements and letters. In response, Deputy Commissioner P.N. Thungon issued an order prohibiting government employees and officials from participating in protests, labeling their actions as “anti-government” and “anti-development.” 

Critics argue large hydropower projects, often executed at the expense of peoples' land rights, cannot be considered sustainable

This move is widely regarded as a violation of the right to assembly, demonstrating a lack of respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples. The Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum has submitted a rejection letter to NHPC, declaring that “...surveys or related activities for the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project should not proceed without the consent of the stakeholders and those affected by the dam.” 

The North East Human Rights organization criticized the Deputy Commissioner’s order, asserting, “This is a clear misuse of power aimed at intimidating the public and community leaders from exercising their constitutional rights.” Despite the apparent focus on profit and political leverage, the Indian government promotes such projects under the guise of national development and security against China's influence in the region. 

They claim this initiative is part of a transition to non-coal and non-fossil fuel energy sources. However, critics argue that large hydropower projects, often executed at the expense of Indigenous peoples and their land rights, cannot be considered sustainable or clean energy solutions. 

The IPMSDL has backed with the Adi community and the people of Siang District in their fight against the NHPC and the Indian government's infringement on Indigenous rights. We must not remain passive while corrupt politicians and businesses exploit our natural resources and displace us from our ancestral lands, it said. 

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*International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination & Liberation co-convenors