Villagers in Geku in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang district have strongly opposed the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), declaring that they will resist the project and will not allow the pre-feasibility report (PFR) survey to be conducted in their area.
The villagers said their ancestral land, agricultural fields and other properties were non-negotiable and accused the authorities of attempting to facilitate the survey despite strong opposition from the local community.
“We will not allow the PFR survey in our area. Our ancestral land, agricultural fields and other properties are non-negotiable. We are prepared to face any consequence rather than surrender our land in the name of development,” said John Panyang, a senior resident of Geku.
Village elders Omon Panyang and Opak Taku, along with youth leader Toya Ezing, echoed these concerns and urged the government to respect the people’s opposition to the proposed project. They said the authorities should engage with the affected communities rather than deploy security forces to facilitate survey work.
The villagers alleged that a large number of security personnel had been deployed in the area to contain protests and ensure that the PFR survey proceeds despite resistance from local residents. The deployment has added to tensions surrounding the proposed hydropower project.
According to reports, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is planning drilling activities at four locations — Ugeng, Komkar, Parong and Begging — along the banks of the Siang River as part of the PFR process. The villagers have opposed the proposed drilling, arguing that the survey could pave the way for the construction of the large hydropower project.
The proposed SUMP is an 11,000-megawatt hydropower project that has become a major point of contention in the region. Opposition from local communities centres on concerns over ancestral land, agricultural livelihoods and the possible consequences of the project for people living in the affected areas.
The state government has deployed 30 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including four companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), along with state police personnel and several platoons of the India Reserve Battalion (IRBn), amid the escalating tensions.
A large contingent of security personnel, including women personnel, has also been stationed at the Dite-Dime bridge, a strategic crossing in the area, to maintain security amid the protests against the proposed dam.
The deployment of additional security personnel and the reported detention of youths and leaders associated with anti-dam organisations have further heightened concerns among residents. The villagers fear that the growing security presence could intensify tensions between the authorities and communities opposing the project.
Residents have also expressed concern over the reported collection of personal information about individuals opposing SUMP. They alleged that police personnel and government representatives were collecting details, including names and photographs, of prominent anti-project voices.
Several villagers have reportedly received notices under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), adding to apprehensions among those involved in the protests.
The developments have deepened the standoff between sections of the local community and the authorities over the proposed project. While the villagers have maintained that they will not permit the PFR survey in their area, they have called on the government to respect their concerns regarding ancestral land and livelihoods.
The situation in Geku remains sensitive as opposition to the proposed hydropower project continues. The villagers’ position reflects the central issue in the dispute: their insistence that their land and properties cannot be surrendered in the name of development.
