114 scientists, Researchers Joined Indigenous Peoples' Protest Against Siang Dam In Arunachal
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Siang, Arunachal Pradesh
- Jun 12, 2025
- 426
In solidarity with the indigenous peoples' protest against the proposed 'Siang Upper Multipurpose Project' (SUMP) or Upper Siang Dam in the Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, 114 scientists, researchers and professionals have issued a joint statement. They said the project will pose a grave threat to one of the most biodiverse and culturally rich regions in the Eastern Himalayas. They expressed concern that the project will severely damage the environment, agricultural systems and social fabric of Beging village and the wider Siang Valley in particular.
For the indigenous people, the Siang River, which they call ‘Ane Siang’ or ‘Ma Siang’, is not just a river – it is at the heart of their culture, way of life and spiritual existence. The proposed dam, if built, would destroy traditional terraced rice fields, gravity-fed irrigation systems and agricultural knowledge passed down through generations. Scientists call this situation worrying, saying that compensation will never be able to adequately value the identities, natural knowledge and customary rights that have developed with the land.
This region is recognized as an international biodiversity hotspot. Over 48 new species have been discovered here in the last 15 years, notable among them are the Siang Swamp Eel (Ophichthys hodgarti), Golden Mahir (Tor putitora), Velvet Worm (Typhloperipatus williamsoni), Opsarius siangi, Glyptothorax siangensis, etc. These rare species are dependent on the natural flow of the river and the construction of dams could pose a threat to their existence.
In the statement, the scientists raised three main demands: all activities of the Upper Siang Dam project should be immediately suspended; the rights of indigenous communities to forests and resources should be recognized in accordance with the Forest Rights Act; and the full opinion of the people should be taken under the principle of 'Free, Prior and Informed Consent' (FPIC).
The statement comes at a time when early and heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh have led to landslides, floods and extensive damage to infrastructure. These natural disasters prove that building large infrastructure projects in earthquake-prone and climate-sensitive areas is dangerous. The devastating 8.6 magnitude earthquake of 1950 also put the region in 'seismic zone V', which is classified as highly earthquake-prone.
The dam project poses not only a natural and environmental risk, but also an attack on cultural and ethnic identity. The Xiang River, which originates in the Tibetan region of China, is intertwined with the lives of about 130 million people not only in northeastern India but also in Tibet and Bhutan. The existence of this river is deeply rooted in the experiences and traditions of indigenous peoples. Hydropower projects, tunneling and reservoir construction could disrupt this tradition.
Recent research has identified species that are unique to the Siang Valley—such as Cyrtodactylus siangensis (2024), Indo-Burmese pangolin, Paraparatrechina neela (blue metallic ant), Pseumenes siangensis (clay pot-making snail), Aborichthys bajpaii, Opsarius siangi, Petaurista siangensis, and many other new plant and animal species. The survival of these species depends on the integrity of the river and its surrounding ecosystem.
The statement said that the protest of the indigenous people of the Siang Valley is a legitimate, sensitive and democratic response, which is respectable under the Indian Constitution and international law. Scientists and researchers have finally called for any development plan for Arunachal Pradesh to prioritize nature, cultural heritage and the rights of the people. Furthermore, the Upper Siang Dam project should be suspended and the rights and views of the indigenous people should be fully respected