Upper Siang, March 24:
In a significant development, 19 villages of the Siang Valley on Tuesday submitted the first phase of what they termed a “final and binding mass public representation” to the NHPC Regional Office in Pasighat, firmly opposing the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project.
The representation was submitted at around 9:00 AM to Amar Nath Jha, General Manager (Civil), NHPC, who also serves as the Head of Project for Siang Lower and Siang Basin Works. Jha has been actively involved in consultations with district authorities and local stakeholders across Siang and Upper Siang districts.
According to the representatives, the submission reflects a unanimous and non-negotiable mandate of the Adi community. The key resolutions outlined in the representation include:
Complete rejection of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project dam
Opposition to any Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) activities
Immediate end to all discussions related to the project
Community leaders stated that this decision has emerged from traditional institutions and collective public consensus, declaring it final and binding.
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| Siang villagers submit representation to NHPC in Pasighat opposing the Siang Upper Project |
They further asserted that the remaining villages will soon submit their representations in a second phase, strengthening what they described as a unified stand of the Adi people.
Issuing a strong warning to NHPC, the government, and private power developers, the villagers emphasized that there is “zero consent” for any dam-related activities in the Siang Valley. They cautioned that any attempt to proceed with surveys, studies, agreements, or project implementation would be seen as a violation of indigenous rights, customary laws, and constitutional protections.
The statement also warned that if the mandate is ignored, the Adi people would be compelled to take appropriate action under their customary laws to safeguard their land, identity, and future.
