Growing Tensions Over Dibang Hydropower Project in Arunachal Pradesh

Escalating Discontent in Lower Dibang Valley

Roing, August 11: The situation surrounding the 2,880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Hydropower Project in Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Dibang Valley has intensified, with local communities threatening protests and legal action due to perceived unfulfilled commitments and governmental neglect.

The Dibang Multipurpose Hydro Project Downstream Affected Area Committee (DMHPDAAC) has accused authorities of neglecting essential downstream protective measures, despite a sanctioned budget of Rs 154 crore.

In a communication directed to the Deputy Commissioner of Roing, the committee expressed concerns that over 150 villages in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam are at risk regarding their land, livelihoods, and overall quality of life due to the ongoing dam construction.

The committee has set a firm deadline of August 24 for the initiation of necessary work, warning that any further delays could lead to widespread democratic protests across the region.

Compounding the situation, the Uttama Bor Abor Sanrakshana Sanrachana (UBSS), one of the few charitable trusts in Arunachal, is preparing to legally contest what it describes as the unfair exclusion of downstream communities from the officially recognized project-affected areas.

UBSS has also urged the Adi Baane Kebang (ABK), a traditional leadership body of the Adi community, to fulfill a commitment made during the Parbuk Kebang to spearhead collective action.

Failure to comply could result in calls for the ABK's derecognition throughout the Dibang region.

Both organizations have sent urgent letters to the Deputy Commissioner, ABK, and the Head of Project for the Dibang initiative, demanding immediate protective measures for residents downstream.

The stakes are considerable. The Rs 31,875-crore project, managed by NHPC Limited near Munli village, will include a 278-meter-high Roller Compacted Concrete dam, which is set to be the tallest of its kind in India and potentially the highest RCC dam globally.

Promoted for its ability to generate electricity, manage floods, and stimulate economic development, the project is also anticipated to achieve a global milestone by pouring over five lakh cubic meters of concrete in a single month.

On August 4, Debabrata Saikia, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly, called on the Union government to address Assam's downstream concerns before proceeding with the Dibang Valley Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh.

In a letter to Union Power Minister Manohar Lal, Saikia highlighted rising fears regarding the project and warned of its possible repercussions for Assam.

He urged immediate attention to the Dibang project, cautioning that Assam could face significant downstream consequences if the issue is not proactively managed.

As the August 24 deadline approaches, the conflict between local communities and project officials threatens to escalate into public demonstrations and legal battles, casting uncertainty over one of India's most ambitious hydropower projects.