In brief
In 2026, India deployed paramilitary troops to Arunachal Pradesh after demonstrations against a massive hydropower dam. Protesters, largely from the Adi community, fear displacement and environmental harm, while the government emphasizes national water security amid China's planned upstream hydropower scheme.
India has deployed paramilitary troops to parts of Arunachal Pradesh after clashes with protesters who opposed the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, an 11,200‑MW hydropower proposal near the Chinese border. The deployment came after a demonstration in the Siang Valley last week where four women were injured during a confrontation with police, according to Anadolu Agency.
The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, first floated by a Congress‑led government in 2008, is planned for the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh. If completed, it would become one of India’s largest single‑source hydropower plants, producing enough electricity to power millions of households. The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation will develop the dam, and the government cites its role as a critical water‑storage reservoir to regulate river flows essential for national water and energy security.
Local residents, especially members of the Adi tribe, have long opposed the dam’s construction, citing fears that the project will submerge ancestral villages, destroy farmlands, displace large populations, and disrupt local ecosystems. The protests in the Siang Valley intensified when police alleged that demonstrators vandalized vehicles and pelted stones at security personnel, while supporters reported that police had used force against civilians, injuring several women.
The central government argues that the dam is strategically vital, particularly in light of China’s plans for a major upstream hydropower project on the same river. It claims the dam will provide a large water‑storage capacity to regulate river flows, preventing floods and ensuring water supply for irrigation and power generation, especially during monsoon and dry season. Government officials emphasize that the project supports India’s broader strategy of water security and energy independence.
In December 2024, China announced plans to construct the world’s largest upstream dam on the Yarlung Zangbo—known in India as the Siang River—in the form of the Medog Hydropower Station. Indian officials have described the Chinese project as an existential threat to the northeastern state, adding a layer of strategic urgency. China regards Arunachal Pradesh as Zangnan, part of southern Tibet, a claim that fuels the territorial dispute.
The dispute over the site compounds territorial tensions. Both China and India claim Arunachal Pradesh, leading to heightened security concerns along the frontier. The state government’s description of the Chinese project as an “existential threat” underscores the regional stakes, while the introduction of a massive dam also sits at the heart of cross‑border water politics, where river regimes influence climate events and livelihoods.
Local protests have triggered police deployment and clashes in the valley. While the Indian government maintains that the project remains within the legal framework of the national Panchayati Raj institutions and the Ministry of Power, opponents argue that the plan violates environmental clearance and land‑acquisition laws. No court decision has yet addressed the case, and the state assembly has debated the issue, with the main opposition Congress party flagging the dam as a key point of contention.
As of 30 October 2026, the project remains stalled, with the government promising further consultations with local stakeholders while continuing to emphasize strategic imperatives. Observers note that the outcome of the protests could influence future hydropower developments along the Siang and other river systems shared with China.
