A view of Dibang Valley

Itanagar, Nov. 23: The Siyom hydel project at Reying under the Payum circle of West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh has run into a protest hurdle with residents of the area, including panchayat leaders and students, demanding scrapping of the 1,000-MW project.

In a memorandum submitted recently to the deputy commissioner of West Siang district, Huzar Lollen, a group of 24 people including panchayat leaders, gaonburahs and students demanded that the project be scrapped.

“The 1,000-MW Siyom hydel project over the Siyom river poses multiple threats to the indigenous population that includes the minuscule Bori tribesmen. Besides the economic benefits of a project, one should judge its adverse impact. The proposed site is in the heart of the Payum area where the entire Bori population is concentrated. There are two more dams which are under construction at the Tato and the Yapik Siyom rivers.

“The planning of three dams at border areas within a 35km radius is fraught with danger as any lapse or environmental disaster will wash away the entire population of the area,” a joint memorandum by the Land Owners’ Action Committee, All Bori Students Union and All Bogu, Mega, Pame, Reying Youth Welfare Association, gaonburahs and students, read.

Reliance Energy will execute the project.

The company is executing the 1000-MW Middle Siang hydel project, Tato-II 700-MW hydel project and the 1,000-MW Siyom hydel project in West Siang district of the state.

The Arunachal government entered into memoranda of understanding with various executing agencies like Reliance, National Hydrolectric Power Corporation, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation, Athena Energies Pvt Ltd and other agencies for execution of different power projects.

In Lower Dibang Valley, the All Idu Mishmi Student Union, Downstream Anti-dam Committee, Dam Affected Citizens Committee and the other inter-state organisations have been demanding immediate scrapping of the 3,000-MW Dibang Multipurpose Project which, they allege, could inundate a vast swathe of land in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

Environmentalists have pressed the panic button.

According to them, Arunachal Pradesh should go for small hydro projects instead of mega dams that cause environmental problems and disasters followed by displacement of population because of submergence of soil.

The commissioning of various hydel projects has sparked an outcry.

Various organisations, including NGOs, are opposing the state government’s move to sign MoUs without consulting the inhabitants of the project area.