Guwahati, July 23: The 11,200 MW Upper Siang multipurpose project in Arunachal Pradesh continues to face delays amid strong resistance from local communities, even as China has begun construction of what is set to be the world’s largest dam over the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet.
Residents of several villages in the Upper Siang region fear massive displacement and ecological disruption due to the dam’s construction.
In an attempt to gain local trust and move the project forward, the Centre—along with the Arunachal Pradesh government—has launched a ₹350 crore Special Development and Livelihood Programme aimed at addressing community concerns before initiating pre-feasibility studies.
Despite these efforts, tensions on the ground remain high. On May 21, villagers in Beging, located downstream of the Siang river, obstructed a team from the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) at Parong—one of three potential dam sites. The other two proposed sites are Dite Dime, about 8 km upstream, and Ugeng in Upper Siang.
The NHPC team, which had arrived to conduct preliminary geological assessments, was forced to retreat after their equipment, including drilling machines, was damaged by protesting villagers. With the onset of the monsoon soon after, all field activity has now been suspended until at least September.
The NHPC has been assigned the task of preparing both the pre-feasibility and detailed project reports. The selection of the final dam site will be based on geological evaluations conducted at the three proposed locations.
The Siang, which originates as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, is a key tributary of the Brahmaputra River. In Arunachal Pradesh, it flows through a seismically sensitive and ecologically rich region. It is joined by other significant tributaries like the Dibang and Lohit in Assam.
As China rapidly advances its hydroelectric ambitions on the upper reaches of the river, both the central and state governments argue that the Upper Siang project is a strategic necessity to counter China’s downstream influence and ensure water security in the Northeast.
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