The Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board has shifted the environmental public hearing for the 1,650 MW Subansiri Upper Hydroelectric Project to October 28, earlier than its initial October 30 slot, according to officials. The session will now occur at Menga Government Secondary School, inviting residents from Siyum, Taliha, Payeng, Jaring, Daporijo, Gusar, and Dumporijo circles—potentially impacted by the project—to share their perspectives and concerns.
This ambitious venture, a collaboration between NHPC Ltd and the Arunachal Pradesh government, is set along the Subansiri River, a key Brahmaputra tributary, aiming to generate 1,650 MW of clean energy. It forms part of a larger effort to expand hydroelectric capacity in Northeast India, strengthening the nation’s renewable energy framework.
Formerly referred to as the Oju-I and Oju-II projects, the initiative has faced over a decade of resistance from local communities, student activists, and environmental advocates. Critics highlight risks to delicate mountain ecosystems, heightened seismic vulnerabilities, and potential displacement of numerous families in Upper Subansiri. Recent protests in Daporijo and near the deputy commissioner’s office underscored demands to halt the project, citing inadequate public engagement and insufficient evaluation of downstream impacts on Assam’s river-dependent populations.
NHPC counters these concerns, asserting full compliance with environmental standards and emphasizing the project’s potential to create jobs, drive economic development, and advance India’s green energy goals.
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