China looming, Arunachal hydel project under fresh protest shadow

Nearly a month after security personnel columns moved into the Ugeng-Komkar area of Arunachal Pradesh's Siang valley for the pre-feasibility report of the proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, protests continue. On October 14, four protesters were detained under a 2014 Act, sparking fresh demonstrations. People in Geku, Upper Siang, demanded the release of the four and called for boycotts of government consultations.

This tension is heightened for the Adi community, concerned about displacement and loss of ancestral land. Protests escalated after Chief Minister Pema Khandu's visit, with an attack on a local MLA's residence and a police vehicle set ablaze. The central government intervened, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju urging dialogue with Adi community leaders.

However, the conflict has a lengthy history, with protests dating back to 2010 when then firebrand anti-dam activist Ojing Tasing met a UPA government Environment Minister. Tasing's current stance, supporting the project, highlights the shifting political landscape.