NHPC holds talks with key members of indigenous tribes of Arunachal

The state-backed National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd (NHPC) last week held a key meeting with indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh to convince them about the need for a proposed Siang upper multipurpose project, planned to be the country's biggest, amid local protests and resistance over fears of displacement and impact on livelihoods, according to an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

- Zia Haq

The Siang upper project, envisaged to have 14 billion cubic metres of storage capacity and generate 11,200 MW of electricity, is meant to act as a buffer against a mega dam being built by China in Tibet, which will be the world's biggest, when completed. India fears the Chinese dam could cut water flows in the Siang and Brahmaputra, which sustains millions of people downstream in the northeastern states and Bangladesh.