Arunachal tribes invoke 'divine ties' with Siang river to oppose dam to counter China threat

Guwahati: Amid government's efforts to convince communities for the mega hydro power project on the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh, those against it are invoking their "age old divine ties" with the river to oppose construction of the proposed large dam that aims to curb the "threat" from China.

A large number of people belonging to the Tani clan held a General Bogum Bokang Kebang (GBBK), a traditional event, at Geku village in Siang district on Friday in which the Siang river was declared as Ane Siang or Goddess Siang like the Ganga or the Yamuna is considered by many in rest of the country.

"We will not allow the government to kill our Goddess river Siang for the generation of electricity. We worship the Siang the way many in central Indian states offer puja to mother Ganga or the Yamuna. Siang is an integral part of our civilisation and culture and we can allow this to be destroyed," a leader of Siang Indigenous Leaders' Forum (SIFF), an organisation leading the public agitation, told DH on Sunday.

The SIFF organised the meet which was attended by leaders of Adi Students' Union, many Gaon Buras (village headmen) and local community leaders from Siang, Upper Siang, Lower Dibang Valley and East Siang districts.

Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang also attended the traditional event, which is normally organised to take crucial decisions concerning culture and identity of the Tani clan.

Adi, Mishing, Tagin, Galo and Nyishi tribes consider them to be part of the Tani clan. Most Tani people practice the traditional Donyi-Polo religion, which worship the Sun and Moon.

China threat

The government claimed that the construction of the dam in the Siang would counter possible threats from the 60,000MW dam China is building in the upper reaches of the river in Tibet, which is known as Yarlung Tsangpo. But the locals fear that the dam in the Siang would bring a catastrophe by disturbing the ecolog and causing displacements.

Government efforts

The decision was taken a few days after Arunachal Pradesh government signed a MoU with residents of Beging village in Siang district, where a pre-feasibility study is to be carried out for a multi-purpose project. The pre-feasibility study, however, has remained stalled mainly due to agitation by the SIFF. The government has also deployed central forces in the area in view of protests by the local residents.

After the MoU was signed with the Beging village, Arunachal Pradesh deputy CM Chowna Mein said, "When the government of India decided that the Siang dam would be taken up with in a single stage of 11,000MW capacity, it was with a dual vision: to generate power for our future needs and to safeguard against the massive 60,000MW project being built across the border."

An official in Arunachal Pradesh government claimed that 85% of the Beging village endoresed the MoU while the SIFF leaders countered saying residents were either forced to sign or being paid to support the agreement. The official said residents of Riga and Riew also similarly endorsed the project.

"There are at least 20 villages around the proposed project and most of them are opposed to it. We demand the government to scrap the big projects and instead go for small hydro power projects in the tributaries of the Siang for power generation," he said.