Warning of threats to indigenous rights and the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, Wangchuk has urged the government to hold meaningful consultations with the Adi community before proceeding with the proposed hydropower project.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, November 4: Amid growing protests against the proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh, climate activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk has appealed to President Droupadi Murmu to intervene and ensure that the concerns of indigenous communities are addressed before the project moves forward.
In a letter dated November 3, Wangchuk raised concerns over alleged intimidation of villagers opposing the project, the deployment of security personnel and restrictions on local residents. He also drew attention to the arrest of young activists and what he described as pressure on communities resisting the proposed dam.
Wangchuk said it was disturbing that indigenous people peacefully opposing the project were being labelled “anti-national”. He urged the authorities to handle the protests with greater sensitivity and respect the rights of affected communities.
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Wangchuk highlighted the cultural and economic significance of the Siang River for the Adi community. The river is closely linked to their identity, traditions and livelihoods. He cautioned that a project of this scale could have lasting consequences for ancestral lands, local communities and the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
Drawing on his experience with environmental movements in Ladakh, Wangchuk stressed the need for constitutional safeguards for indigenous communities and ecologically sensitive regions. He argued that major infrastructure projects in the Himalayas should not proceed without democratic consultation and meaningful participation of the people who will be affected.
Ladakh stands with Arunachal Pradesh. #ArunachalPradesh
@rashtrapatibhvn https://t.co/W4CT9MGyiZ
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) November 3, 2026
Wangchuk urged the President to facilitate an open dialogue between the government and local communities before any final decision is taken on the project.
Wangchuk also pointed to the strategic importance of border communities, arguing that their trust and cooperation are essential to India’s national interests. He said their concerns should not be treated merely as an obstacle to infrastructure development.
Opposition to the Siang Project
The proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project has faced sustained opposition from sections of the Adi community. Residents fear displacement, environmental damage, loss of biodiversity and the destruction of ancestral and cultural heritage.
The project has also acquired strategic significance amid concerns over China’s hydropower plans on the upper reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet. The river enters India as the Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and later joins other rivers to form the Brahmaputra.
While the project is being viewed in the context of India’s hydropower potential and strategic interests, opponents have demanded that the environmental and social consequences be assessed and local concerns addressed.
Appeal by Wangchuk has brought renewed attention to the conflict between large infrastructure projects, indigenous rights and environmental protection in the eastern Himalayas.
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