Wed Dec 04 08:05:45 UTC 2024: ## Arunachal Pradesh’s Dam Projects Spark Human Rights Concerns
**GUWAHATI, December 4, 2024** – The Arunachal Pradesh government’s push for large-scale hydroelectric projects is clashing with concerns over human rights and ecological damage, according to activists. While Chief Minister Pema Khandu touts the projects as crucial for the state’s economic development, generating ₹10,000 crore in revenue over the next 10 years, activist Ebo Mili alleges the government is ignoring the plight of indigenous communities and violating their land rights.
Mili, speaking at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, highlighted the lack of free, prior, and informed consent in the development of projects like the 3,000 MW Dibang Multipurpose Dam, where he claims affected communities received only 40% of the actual value of their land and forests in compensation. He also criticized the government’s use of nationalistic rhetoric and strategic defense narratives to justify projects like the 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose project, citing instances of violence against protesters.
The Union Cabinet recently approved two new hydroelectric projects, Heo (240 MW) and Tato-1 (186 MW), totaling ₹3,698 crore. Mili urged the UN to intervene, emphasizing the ongoing struggle of indigenous communities to protect their ancestral lands from what he describes as increasing pressure from the government and MLAs who have become advocates for dam developers. He specifically highlighted the unheard grievances of the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum concerning the impact of the projects on the Siang and Upper Siang districts. The Chief Minister, however, maintains that the projects are necessary to address potential threats from damming of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in China. The conflicting narratives highlight a growing tension between economic development and the protection of indigenous rights and the environment in Arunachal Pradesh.
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