Violence mars shutdown over proposed 1,605-MW dam in Arunachal Pradesh
· India · The Hindu, Times of India
Violence during a 12-hour shutdown paralysed parts of Upper Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, October 26, 2026, leading to the cancellation of a public hearing on the proposed 1,605-megawatt Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project, also known as the Menga Dam. Several student and community-based organisations, led by the All Tagin Students' Union, called the shutdown after alleged attempts by police to detain ATSU president Tadak Pakba on Saturday night. NHPC office, a police station and the state BJP chief's house were set ablaze or vandalised amid protests in Daporijo, the district headquarters. Protesters also damaged or burnt equipment and surveying instruments at the NHPC office, citing environmental concerns, livelihood impacts and indigenous rights. Security personnel were deployed in the district amid reports of ongoing tension.
Why it matters
The shutdown and violence disrupt the proposed Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project, directly affecting project-affected communities, indigenous rights and the operations of state-run NHPC in the region, while raising concerns over environmental impacts and livelihoods in Upper Subansiri district.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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