Massive dam sparks fresh unrest in Arunachal's Siang Valley amidst Central police force deployment

By A Representative

In a dramatic escalation of long-standing opposition to mega hydro projects in Northeast India, the Siang Indigenous Farmer’s Forum (SIFF) has begun qn indefinite dharna and peaceful protest at the Beging Dam Survey Site. The protest comes in response to the recent deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in several parts of the Siang Valley, including Beging, Geku, Jengging, and district headquarters Pasighat, Boleng, and Yingkiong.

According to a press release issued by SIFF, the CAPF presence is aimed at facilitating survey operations for the proposed 11,500 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP)—a controversial dam project that has faced decades of local resistance. Officials from the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC), backed by CAPF security, have reportedly begun conducting a Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR), with drilling machinery already installed at the Beging site.

The SUMP project, if constructed, would be one of India’s largest hydroelectric ventures. However, it has also been one of the most hotly contested. Local tribal communities, led by SIFF and other grassroots coalitions, have consistently argued that the project would devastate the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, submerge traditional lands, and threaten indigenous cultural identity.

“We never consented to this survey,” said SIFF in its statement. “This forceful intrusion is a blatant violation of our Fundamental Rights under the Indian Constitution. It is an arbitrary abuse of power that has violated our sentiments, our lands, and our rights.”

The forum urged immediate intervention from government authorities and civil society organizations, calling the deployment of paramilitary forces a disproportionate and coercive tactic.

The 11,500 MW capacity could significantly boost India's hydropower output. Yet, critics point out that the cumulative impact of over 160 planned hydroelectric projects in the Arunachal Himalayas would permanently alter river systems, displace thousands, and exacerbate ecological vulnerabilities. Environmentalists have previously raised alarms over potential impacts on the Siang River, the main stem of the Brahmaputra, which sustains millions of lives downstream in Assam and Bangladesh.

The CAPF deployment echoes a familiar pattern seen in other parts of India where dissenting communities have been bypassed or suppressed in the name of development. Activists fear this could mark a return to the kind of militarized development model criticized in other resource-rich but politically sensitive regions like Bastar and Northeast India.

Legal scholars note that under India’s Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 and Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), 1996, no project in Scheduled Areas can proceed without the free, prior and informed consent of Gram Sabhas. “If these democratic safeguards are ignored, it sets a dangerous precedent,” said a Delhi-based environmental lawyer.

The dharna which began on May 23, 2025, has drawn not just local residents but also solidarity groups from other northeastern states and national civil society networks. Organizers have emphasized that the protest will remain peaceful but firm in demanding the immediate withdrawal of CAPF forces and halting of all survey activities.

Comments

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor* A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas* Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra* The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

Search This Blog