Why India’s Proposed Mega Dam in Arunachal to Counter China Has Triggered Gen Z Protests

India’s proposed 11,200-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh has triggered protests among indigenous communities, with young people opposing a dam the government considers vital to water security and its strategy against China.

The project has become a flashpoint between the Centre’s strategic ambitions and local communities’ fears of displacement, environmental damage and the loss of ancestral land. Protests that began over proposed survey work have escalated into clashes, arson and arrests, bringing the project’s future into focus.

Why Are Arunachal Pradesh’s Gen Z and Indigenous Communities Opposing the Dam?

For the Adi community, which lives along the Siang River, the project raises concerns that go beyond electricity generation and national security.

Residents fear that the reservoir could submerge villages, agricultural land and ancestral territories, forcing communities to relocate. They are also concerned about the loss of cultural heritage, traditional livelihoods and the natural environment.

The proposed project has been particularly contentious because the Siang is closely tied to the identity and everyday lives of communities living along its banks.

Opposition has also centred on the government’s proposed preliminary feasibility report. The survey process is intended to assess whether the project can be built, including its technical feasibility and geological risks.

However, opponents fear that allowing surveys to proceed could pave the way for construction, making it harder for communities to stop the project later.

Local organisations have demanded direct consultations with affected villages and traditional institutions before the government proceeds with further work. They argue that individual expressions of support cannot replace collective discussions with communities that could face displacement.

How Have the Protests Escalated?

Resistance to the Siang project has intensified as authorities have sought to facilitate survey work. Demonstrations and opposition from indigenous organisations have been followed by clashes, property damage and arrests.

On October 23, protests in Pasighat turned violent, with reports of arson and damage to public and private property. The unrest prompted a heavier security deployment in the region.

The Centre also moved to deploy Rapid Action Force personnel to support local authorities amid concerns about further demonstrations.

Protesters have demanded a halt to survey activities, the release of those arrested and the withdrawal of cases against demonstrators. Indigenous organisations have also called for greater engagement with traditional village councils and affected communities.

The unrest has exposed a widening gap between the government’s strategic case for the project and the concerns of people who fear its consequences for their homes and way of life.

Why Does India Want to Build a Mega Dam in Arunachal Pradesh?

The proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) is planned on the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh. The river originates in Tibet, where it is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo, before entering India and eventually joining other rivers to form the Brahmaputra.

India’s plans have gained urgency following China’s construction of a massive hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet. Announced in 2024 and launched in July 2025, the Chinese project is expected to have a generation capacity of around 60,000 MW, potentially making it the world’s largest hydropower project.

New Delhi is concerned that China’s control over the river’s upstream flow could have implications for water security and flood management downstream.

The Indian government sees the proposed Siang dam as a potential safeguard against sudden changes in river flows. With an estimated live storage capacity of 9.2 billion cubic metres, the project could help regulate water releases, moderate floods and generate electricity.

However, the extent to which the Indian dam could offset the effects of China’s project would depend on river flows, operating arrangements and the nature of any upstream changes.

Environmental and Seismic Risks Add to Concerns

Arunachal Pradesh lies in a seismically active part of the Himalayas, raising questions about the safety of building a massive dam in the region.

Opponents fear that the combination of earthquake risks, a large reservoir and the region’s ecological sensitivity could have serious consequences for local communities and the surrounding environment.

The proposed reservoir’s potential impact on villages and farmland has added to these concerns. Indigenous groups have also questioned whether the promised benefits of hydropower and infrastructure development would outweigh the costs borne by residents.

The government, meanwhile, maintains that feasibility studies are necessary to determine whether the project is technically viable and to assess its potential benefits.

What Happens Next?

The proposed Siang dam remains caught between India’s concerns about China’s upstream hydropower expansion and local opposition to the potential social and environmental costs.

For the Centre, the project offers a possible means of strengthening hydropower generation and preparing for changes in the Brahmaputra’s upstream water flows. For the Adi community and other residents, it raises questions about displacement, environmental safety and the future of their ancestral lands.

The immediate challenge is to address these concerns while determining whether the project is technically and environmentally feasible. The outcome will depend not only on engineering assessments but also on how the government engages with communities that stand to be affected.

The dispute has also raised a broader question for India’s infrastructure planning: how can national security and energy priorities be pursued without overlooking the rights, livelihoods and concerns of indigenous people?