On a football field surrounded by foggy mountains, a crowd gathered for passionate speeches as local tribes protested against a planned mega-dam. This project is seen as India’s response to China’s ambition to build a massive dam in Tibet, raising concerns over water management in the region.
India intends for this new dam to store water and safeguard against any sudden releases from China’s dam, which could lead to catastrophic flooding downstream.
Residents at potential dam sites, however, view these plans as a threat to their existence. Tapir Jamoh, a villager from Riew, defiantly raised a bow with a poison-tipped arrow, pledging to resist the dam’s construction. He stressed, “We will fight till the end of time. We will not let a dam be built.”
The Adi people, to whom Jamoh belongs, live in northeastern India, surrounded by towering peaks that separate them from Tibet and Myanmar. The proposed Indian dam would create a reservoir large enough to fill four million Olympic-size swimming pools, standing at 280 meters high.
This development comes as China pushes forward with its $167 billion Yaxia project on the river known to India as the Siang. This initiative includes multiple hydropower stations expected to generate three times the power of China’s Three Gorges dam, the world’s largest power station.
Beijing claims its project won’t negatively affect downstream countries, asserting that it has never intended to use its hydropower projects as leverage over others.
However, residents like Jamoh express that if the river is dammed, their cultural identity would be lost. “The Siang is part of who we are,” he lamented.
While relations between India and China have seen some improvement, both nations remain on alert over various border disputes. Indian officials worry that China could manipulate water flow from its dam, potentially creating droughts or flooding elsewhere.
In response, India sees its dam as essential for water security and flood management. A senior engineer involved in the project explained that it’s designed to buffer against possible water diversions from China during dry seasons.
India’s planned dam is expected to produce around 11,600 megawatts of electricity, marking it as the country’s most powerful source of energy. However, generating electricity isn’t the primary goal; it’s about ensuring adequate water supply and preventing flooding.
The Adi community, which depends on the Siang for its livelihood, fears that the dam will submerge their villages and disrupt their way of life. “We are children of the Siang,” Jamoh, a former village head, stated.
Local protests intensified when the National Hydropower Corporation attempted to survey potential dam sites, leading villagers to block access. Even as the government increased its presence in the area, the protests continued. During a recent gathering, villagers condemned the dam project and demanded transparency.
Many believe that constructing the dam would eliminate entire communities, including likely inundation of towns like Yingkiong.
Experts warn that using a “dam-for-dam” strategy may not resolve underlying issues. They advocate for peaceful negotiations and collaborative water management instead of reactive infrastructure projects. Given that the region is prone to earthquakes, building massive dams poses significant risks.
Despite local opposition, India seems committed to advancing its dam projects. Jamoh expressed his despair, saying, “If the dam must be built, I hope I die before that day comes.”
