The Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum Youth Wing (SIFFYW) said that thousands of villagers opposed the proposed 11,000 mw Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) - a position that was made clear during an unofficial meeting held on 27 August in Upper Siang district.

Villagers expressed concerns over the construction of a large reservoir in an earthquake-prone region. The organisation said that villagers are seeking protection for their ancestral land, rivers, forests and mountains. Village leaders cited safeguards including the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), Article 371(H) of the Constitution, the Forest Rights Act, the EIA notification and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

The SIFFYW said that the opposition has stalled the project's pre-feasibility report (PFR), with village councils also opposing surveys, data collection and project-related discussions.

The meeting was reportedly held without an official circular or prior notice, with Divisional Commissioner Amjad Tak attending to understand the ground situation. During the meeting, villagers expressed their opposition to government agencies, corporations or their representatives entering Siang villages for project-related surveys or discussions.

The meeting appears to have made the position of the people of Geku very clear. It is now for the government to understand the ground reality. With the floods in Nepal and Tibet serving as warning signs, the government must go slow on major infrastructure projects in the state.

The first step, however, is to listen to the villagers and understand their concerns. Until and unless these concerns are addressed, the government should not plan or move ahead with the project.