Just a day ahead of the signing of 13 memorandums of agreement (MoA) between the government of Arunachal Pradesh and four major central public sector undertakings (CPSU) for undertaking various hydropower projects, voices of dissent have risen. The government is signing an MoA with the National Hydroelectric Power Commission (NHPC), the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDCL) and the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) for undertaking hydropower projects in the Dibang, Siang, Subansiri and Lohit basins. Union Power Minister RK Singh will be present during the MoA signing ceremony to be held at the banquet hall, Itanagar.
The Acheso Atih Welfare Society (AAWA) has opposed signing of MoA with the SJVN for the 420 MW Mihundo HEP. The All Idu Mishmi Students’ Union has declared a 12-hour bandh as a mark of protest against signing of the MoAs in Dibang valley and Lower Dibang valley districts. The MoA will be signed for five hydroelectric power projects in the Dibang basin, namely, Amulin HEP, Emini HEP, Mihundon HEP, Etalin HEP, and Athunli HEP. The locals are alleging that their concerns had not been addressed before the signing of MoAs. This is a serious allegation. The government should have taken locals into confidence before signing MoAs. Hydropower is a very sensitive subject and deeply emotional too. A large section of people do not want to part ways with their land. Hopefully the government will look into the concerns raised by the affected people. They should engage in dialogue with them.