China has recently approved the construction of the world's largest hydropower dam in Tibet on the Yarlung Tsangbo River which turns left and flows through Arunachal Pradesh and is called Siang in the state, then Brahmaputra in Assam and Jamuna in Bangladesh before flowing into the Bay of Bengal, reports NDTV.
The dam on the Tibetan plateau has wider implications for India's national security and the ecology of the states in India and Bangladesh, affecting millions. It could lead to flash floods or water scarcity downstream and give China leverage in a state of armed conflict.
The Yarlung River enters India through Arunachal Pradesh and becomes Siang. The Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Chowna Mein, spoke to the media on the impact of the Chinese dam on the state and how the proposed ‘Siang Dam’ in the state will be to “counter” the Chinese mega project.
The Upper Siang Hydropower Project is a proposed dam on the Siang River in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal and can produce up to 11,000 MW of electricity.
“The Siang dam will counter the Chinese mega-dam on Yarlun Tsangbo. It is for national security and people should understand. We are making people aware of the implications of the Chinese project on our state. For the last five years, we have been creating awareness of the Siang Dam and many people understand but some are not able to understand the gravity of the situation and how the proposed Chinese dam will affect the Siang River and the downstream area,” Mr Mein said.
“People should allow us to do a pre-visibility report and if it is feasible to make a dam in Siang in two years, we will make a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and if it is not beneficial for the people, then we will not construct a dam in Siang river but if it is, then we will construct the dam,” he added.
The Siang Dam is facing resistance from locals in the area in Arunachal Pradesh.
More than 350 individuals, civil society and environmental groups across the country have urged President Droupadi Murmu to withdraw paramilitary forces deployed in Arunachal Pradesh to allegedly "forcefully carry out" surveys for a mega hydropower project.
At the Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum (SIFF), hundreds of villagers in the Siang River belt have been protesting and proposed feasibility studies be carried out for the proposed 12,500 MW Siang Upper Multi-purpose Project (SUMP).
"The deployment, which is meant to facilitate a pre-feasibility survey for the SUMP, has met with peaceful protests in villages of the Siang Valley in the past week. Expressing solidarity with the indigenous populations of the region, the submission to the President draws attention to the fact that this will be India's largest hydropower project," a statement bearing the signatures of 351 individuals and representatives of various organisations said.
The minister urged locals to allow the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) to take the machinery to the site for the pre-visibility report.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
