Staff REPORTER
ITANAGAR, Nov 5: Anti-dam activist and engineer Katon Moyong, popularly known as ‘Abor Man’, has reiterated his opposition to the proposed 11,000-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), demanding that the government halt the pre-feasibility report (PFR) process and secure the consent of the 60 village councils concerned before initiating any discussion on the project.
Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here on Thursday, Moyong accused the state government of invoking different justifications, including national interest and security concerns, to push the proposed mega dam project despite sustained opposition from affected communities.
He said the Adi community had opposed dam construction on the Siang river for nearly five decades, alleging that successive governments had attempted to revive the proposal under different names and narratives.
“Our grandfathers opposed the dam, and today we are continuing the same fight,” he said, questioning the government's argument that the project was necessary to address national security concerns and the potential impact of China's proposed 60,000-MW hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo river.
Moyong urged Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal East MP Tapir Gao to seek clarity from Chinese authorities on the proposed project across the border, rather than using the issue to justify the Siang project.
Reiterating the movement's position, he said, “No Dam, No PFR”, adding that further consultations would serve little purpose unless the opposition of the affected communities was acknowledged.
He insisted that no discussion on SUMP should take place without the approval of the 60 village councils concerned. “Don't send us letters. Don't discuss Siang with a corrupt government unless you have 60 village council approvals,” he said.
Moyong also alleged that the state government had signed 145 memorandums of agreement (MoAs) for hydropower projects without adequately consulting the state's 26 tribes. He claimed that political and bureaucratic interests were benefiting from hydropower development while local communities were being denied their rightful share.
Accusing the government of attempting to divide communities over the SUMP issue, he appealed to all tribes to unite, arguing that opposition to the project should be viewed as a collective concern involving the rights, resources and future of the state rather than through tribal or religious identities.
He also questioned the deployment of police and security personnel in the Siang belt amid the ongoing agitation, warning that the presence of armed forces could intensify public resentment. Calling for the release of those detained in connection with the anti-SUMP movement, he said the use of force would further widen the divide between the government and affected communities.
Clarifying that he was not opposed to development or hydropower projects in general, Moyong said he was open to smaller projects but opposed a mega dam on the Siang river because of its potential implications for the region.
He urged people to remain united and called for political accountability, asking voters to raise their concerns through the democratic process, including in the 2029 elections.
He concluded by reiterating the slogan, “No Siang Dam”.