GUWAHATI An Arunachal Pradesh-based human rights and anti-dam activist said the BJP government in the State had become an advocate of big dam developers, ignoring years of resistance and the potential threat to the people and the ecology.
On November 25, the Union Cabinet approved the 240 MW Heo and the 186 MW Tato-1 Hydroelectric Projects, both in the Shi-Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh, worth ₹3,698 crore. Around the same time, Ebo Mili of the North East Human Rights urged the United Nations to address the issues the project-affected indigenous people have been facing in India’s easternmost State.
Speaking at the 13th annual United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights in Switzerland’s Geneva, Mr. Mili focussed on the critical issue of land rights for indigenous people, particularly in the context of large-scale land acquisitions. He highlighted the ongoing struggle of indigenous communities to protect their ancestral lands amid “increasing pressures” from the State government and the MLAs, who have often “become advocates for dam developers”.
He emphasised the violation of the free, prior and informed consent principle, citing the long-standing resistance against the 3,000 MW Dibang Multipurpose Dam project.
“Despite decades of opposition, the project proceeded, resulting in the loss of land, forests, and rivers for compensation that amounted to approximately 40% of the actual value,” he said.
He pointed out the failure of local leaders and the administration to adequately support the families affected by the project.
Mr. Mili also shed light on the continuous pressure from the State government for the 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose project. He criticised the use of strategic defence narratives, concerns over Chinese dams, and nationalistic rhetoric to justify the project.
“Those opposing the dam have faced targeting and accusations of being influenced by foreign entities in the media,” he said, referring to incidents of shooting at anti-dam protesters in the State’s Tawang and Dibang districts leading to the loss of lives.
He also said the grievances of the people in the Siang and Upper Siang districts, led by the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum, had not been heard. He drew attention to the urgent need to respect indigenous land rights and ensure genuine consultation and fair compensation for the affected communities.
Eyeing revenue
On December 2, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said hydropower was one of the most effective sources of revenue generation for Arunachal Pradesh, which holds 50% of India’s total hydropower generation capacity.
Insisting that the State’s revenue collection would see a “massive upward trend” in the coming years, he said the Centre agreed to give Arunachal Pradesh 26% of the equity share from each project in addition to the existing quota of 12% free power.
“The proposed 35,000 MW could generate a revenue of ₹10,000 crore in the next 10 years. The more revenue we generate, the more we can uplift the living conditions of our people,” he said.
Earlier, Mr. Khandu said the Siang Upper Multipurpose project was conceived to address the challenges posed by the damming of Yarlung Tsangpo in China, posing significant threats of flash floods and water scarcity in the downstream areas. Yarlung Tsangpo is upstream of the Siang River in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China.