Context: Protests broke out at the Upper Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh as Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is gearing up to carry out a pre-feasibility study for the proposed 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. Locals are protesting citing concerns over its environmental and social impacts.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Siang Hydropower Project; Siang River; Adi Tribes
Siang Upper Multipurpose Project:
- Proposed 11,000 MW Multipurpose Project in the Siang river.
- Location: Upper Siang district, Arunanchal Pradesh.
Need for the Project:
- Handle possible threats from the 60,000 MW power project (the world’s biggest hydropower dam) being constructed by China in the upper reaches of Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet (called Siang in Arunachal Pradesh). China is not a signatory to the International Water Conventions. It intends to divert the water from the multiple water reservoirs to dry regions of Tibet and elsewhere in the country.
- Siang Upper Multipurpose Project aims to maintain natural flow of water in the Siang river throughout the year, and flood modulation in case of sudden water release by China.
Concerns:
- Displacement: The project is estimated to affect at least 100,000 local residents (in the upper Siang district) who could be displaced.
- Environmental concerns: There are also concerns about the environmental impact of the project involving construction activities on the Siang River.
About Siang River
- The Tsangpo – Yarlung Zangbo, as it is known in China – enters Arunachal Pradesh, where it is known as the Dihang (or Siang) River.
- It traverses more than 1,000 km eastward, before forming a horseshoe bend around the towering Namcha Barwa peak, and enters Arunachal Pradesh as the Siang (or Dihang).
- It turns towards the south and enters Assam, where it is joined by two mountain streams, the Lohit and the Dibang, and thereafter it is known as the Brahmaputra.
- River Teesta joins Jumna (Brahmaputra in Bangladesh) as a right bank tributary.
- Jumna moves further and joins Padma which then joins Meghna. Meghna flows into the Bay of Bengal.
- The sub-basin lies in the States of Arunachal Pradesh (Subansiri, Kameng, and Bhareli rivers) , Assam (Manas, Kopili, Sankosh, and Dikhow rivers), Nagaland {Doyang (flows into Dhansiri)}, Meghalaya (Umngot and Kynshi rivers), West Bengal and Sikkim (Teesta)
- It meanders through the heartland of Arunachal Pradesh, inhabited by the Adis.
| Left/ South bank Tributaries of Brahmaputra | Right/ North bank Tributaries of Brahmaputra |
| Dibang | Subansari |
| Lohit | Kameng |
| Burhi Dihang | Manas |
| Kopilli | Sankosh |
| Dhansiri (South) | Dhansiri (North) |
| Kelang | Teesta (Sikkim, WB) |
| Noadehing | Ronganadi |
Who are the Adi Tribes?
- It is one of the major tribes of Northeast India.
- It consists of 14 sub-tribes, namely Ashing, Bori, Bokar, Karko, Komkar, Minyong, Millang, Pasi, Padam, Panggi, Pailibo, Ramo, Shimong and Tangam.
- They are predominantly inhabited in sub-tropical regions of the Siang belt and Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh.
- They have Mongoloid features patriarchal society, and possess a strong base of traditional knowledge about forest structure and ecosystem function.
- They mostly follow the age-old tradition of Animism known as “Donyi Polo”, and practice jhum for their agriculture.
- The Adi people speak a language also called Adi, which is distantly related to Chinese and Tibetan languages.