Arunachal journalist groups decry social-media blocks on Upper Siang dam coverage
Press bodies in Arunachal Pradesh say social-media posts about the Upper Siang Hydropower Project have been blocked or accounts limited, and they demand restoration and an explanation.
On Monday, the Arunachal Press Club and the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists issued a joint statement alleging that several journalists have found videos and other social-media content about the Upper Siang Hydropower Project either removed or their accounts limited within India. Describing the situation as a "serious alarm," the groups demanded the immediate reinstatement of legitimate reporting and a clear justification for any restrictions imposed on journalists or news organisations.
They emphasized that the project involves development, environmental impact, displacement, indigenous rights and national interests, and that suppressing coverage undermines informed public discourse amid ongoing protests and negotiations. Protesters in the Siang region have called for an immediate stop to pre-feasibility surveys and the withdrawal of security forces. The state government, however, maintains that the 11,000 MW Upper Siang Multipurpose Project will generate employment, foster economic growth and strengthen water and energy security for the state and the nation. The journalist bodies also requested disclosure of any legal basis or authority behind the alleged social-media blocks.
Why it matters
Censorship of project reporting limits public debate on a large dam that affects development, environment and indigenous communities.
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