ARUNACHAL PRADESH — In a race to counter China’s hydropower projects in the Brahmaputra Basin, India’s push to build massive dams is causing widespread fear, anxiety, and cultural erosion among local communities in Arunachal Pradesh. A new report highlights that while these projects are championed as steps toward sustainable development, their human and ecological costs are profound and largely ignored.
Displacement and Dread in the Siang Valley
The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), a key part of India’s dam strategy, has sparked significant tension. Current estimates suggest that the project will submerge as many as 27 villages, directly impacting over 100,000 residents. For these villagers, the project is a source of unremitting fear and anxiety.
“We do not want to go anywhere else,” stressed a local resident. Despite a recently launched USD 40 million package for alternative livelihoods, many feel the benefits are inadequate and that their concerns about where they will be relocated and how they will rebuild their lives have not been addressed. Locals also fear that the dam could collapse due to the region’s high seismicity and geological fragility, posing a grave danger to downstream areas.
Cultural Fabric Unraveling
The social and cultural impacts of dam projects are already evident in the region. In the Lower Dibang district, where construction on the Dibang Multipurpose Project (DMP) began in 2023, the local social fabric has been significantly altered. While some project-affected families received monetary compensation, many, especially women and girls, were left out. The sudden influx of money has led to economic instability for many who have spent their funds on luxurious commodities and gambling.
The report also notes an “upward trend” of young Idu Mishmi women, a local tribal group, entering relationships with wealthy, older men for financial security, a change that has fueled serious concerns among locals about the erosion of cultural norms and communal cohesion.
Living in Perpetual Uncertainty
The human cost is also clear at the Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Project, which began construction in 2005 but has yet to be commissioned due to recurring damage and safety concerns. This prolonged uncertainty has left entire communities in a state of suspended uncertainty and distress.
“I am even scared to make a house here. What if the dam breaks and takes everything away?” said an elderly woman from Gogamukh village. The dam’s obstruction of natural water flows has already reduced agricultural productivity and depleted fish resources, adding to the feelings of despair. The report concludes that despite past negative experiences with hydropower projects, governments continue to prioritize this approach, resulting in what the article describes as “infrastructural violence” against marginalized communities.