Indian dam to counter China: why does it anger local residents?
An Indian project to build a giant dam in the Himalayas, intended to counter the effects of a large Chinese project on the same river, triggered violent protests in Arunachal Pradesh that turned into clashes with police and the burning of government buildings. The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project has a planned capacity of 11,200 megawatts, and the state hydropower company NHPC is involved in its studies. Indian media reports said protesters set fire to a company office and a police station, and police sources said about 40 security personnel were injured, while authorities imposed restrictions on gatherings in the affected areas. The project has not yet reached the dam construction stage; preliminary studies are ongoing and no final decision has been taken on implementation.
Why it matters: The unrest sets transboundary water security between India and China against domestic contestation over land, livelihoods and indigenous rights in a border state that Beijing also claims.