Anti dam protest in Arunachal against construction of 10K mega-watt dam over Siang river

The Dibang Multipurpose Hydro Project Downstream Affected Area Committee (DMHPDAAC) on April 27 demanded the state government to prepare a ‘cumulative downstream impact assessment’ of various project in the state.

Chairman of the committee, Gotem Tayeng also alleged that the state government and its representatives have never discussed nor conducted public hearings for dam-affected people of downstream areas.

He said that a meeting was conducted at Dambuk which was attended by senior leaders of Dambuk and Roing along with PRI members and GBs, after which he said memorandums were submitted to the Chief Secretary, GoAP, and also the Chairman and Managing Director of NHPC Ltd seeking cumulative downstream impact assessment of multiple projects.

Demanding project-affected families (PAF) status for downstream communities, Tayeng said that Dibang Multipurpose Project is the lowest dam of 16 dams proposed upstream. 

“The ecology and livelihood of downstream communities will be adversely affected. Yet, to our utter shock, we are not considered under the PAF,” he alleged.

The committee also called for re-examining impacts on forest rights, construction of a guide wall, embankment, protection wall, and land compensation, 80 per cent job quota in C and D grade, and the appointment of a dam review expert committee, among other demands.

While giving examples of dam break incidents across the world, DMHPDAAC spokesperson Bhanu Tatak claimed that the area comes under seismic zone-V. 

“And in case the dam breaks, there will be huge destruction in the area. We are not opposing the construction of the said dam but the government should come up with proper policy for protection of the area,” she said.

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