Upper Siang, March 1, 2026:
In a significant development from the Siang region, residents of Ramku village under Geku Circle have unanimously declared collective non-consent to all Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) activities linked to the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. The decision was taken during a two-day traditional council (Kebang) held recently.
The historic Kebang witnessed participation from nearly all sections of the village community. Village council elders, customary leaders, farmers, women, and youth gathered in large numbers, with representatives from around 35 households engaging in detailed deliberations on the proposed mega dam and ongoing survey-related activities.
Two Days of Deliberation
According to community representatives, discussions focused on environmental, social, cultural, and land rights concerns arising from survey operations, data collection exercises, geological investigations, and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) processes associated with the project.
Following extensive consultations, the traditional council unanimously resolved to reject:
Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) surveys
Geological drilling or related investigations
Data collection or mapping exercises
Any form of project-related entry into customary village lands
Community members alleged that such activities were being pursued without formal approval or consultation with the recognised Village Council and customary authorities.
Community Declaration of Non-Consent
In a formal declaration, residents described themselves as traditional custodians and rights holders of ancestral lands, forests, and river systems. The declaration asserted that no individual or group acting without Village Council authorisation can represent the collective will of the community.
Invoking constitutional democratic rights, villagers affirmed their decision to peacefully oppose any activity connected to the project within their customary jurisdiction.
Assertion of Customary Governance
Elders emphasised that decisions concerning land and natural resources must originate through collective consultation under established customary governance systems practiced across the region. The declaration further underscored that the position reflects a united stand of elders, women, farmers, landholders, and youth.
Growing Regional Significance
Observers note that the resolution from Ramku may carry wider implications across Upper Siang, where traditional institutions continue to play a central role in land governance throughout Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in remote indigenous regions.
Amid intensifying debates over large-scale infrastructure development, the development highlights growing grassroots mobilisation and assertion of customary rights in northeastern India.
