📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prince Waqar Jalbai
National
Safety Concerns Prompt Call to Rethink Hydropower Projects in Arunachal Pradesh
✍️ Counterview
🗓 02 Sep 2026, 12:37 PM
👁 5
Experts warn that the fragile terrain of Arunachal Pradesh makes large‑scale hydropower schemes risky, urging authorities to prioritize safety.
A growing chorus of environmentalists and engineers is urging the government to pause large‑scale hydropower projects in Arunachal Pradesh until safety concerns are fully addressed. The call stems from the region’s rugged topography, which makes dam construction and operation particularly hazardous.
Arunachal’s steep slopes, high seismic activity and rich biodiversity create a fragile environment where any structural failure could trigger landslides, flooding and long‑term ecological damage. These natural characteristics, combined with limited access for emergency response, heighten the risk profile of conventional hydropower schemes.
Stakeholders suggest that policymakers conduct rigorous safety audits, explore smaller run‑of‑the‑river designs, or consider alternative renewable options such as solar and wind. The emphasis is on ensuring that energy development does not compromise the safety of local communities or the integrity of the ecosystem.
Arunachal’s steep slopes, high seismic activity and rich biodiversity create a fragile environment where any structural failure could trigger landslides, flooding and long‑term ecological damage. These natural characteristics, combined with limited access for emergency response, heighten the risk profile of conventional hydropower schemes.
Stakeholders suggest that policymakers conduct rigorous safety audits, explore smaller run‑of‑the‑river designs, or consider alternative renewable options such as solar and wind. The emphasis is on ensuring that energy development does not compromise the safety of local communities or the integrity of the ecosystem.