ITANAGAR, Oct 26: A 12-hour bandh against the proposed 1,605 MW Upper Subansiri Hydroelectric Project, also known as the Menga Dam, disrupted normal life in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district on Monday, with protesters allegedly damaging equipment at an NHPC-related office and overturning a police vehicle.
The shutdown was observed in Daporijo and other parts of the district amid opposition to the project being pursued by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
The protest reportedly turned violent when demonstrators damaged and set fire to electronic office equipment and surveying tools at an office associated with the project. A police vehicle was also damaged and overturned as tensions escalated.
Media reports linked the unrest to opposition to the proposed dam, allegations of police trespassing and an alleged attempt to detain a student union leader. However, the circumstances surrounding the reported detention attempt and the damage to property remained unclear.
The bandh brought vehicular movement to a halt in several areas and affected commercial activities across the district during the 12-hour shutdown.
The protest reflects local opposition to the proposed hydropower project at Menga. Details of the protesters’ specific demands, the administration’s response and the project’s current approval and construction status were not immediately available.
