Arunachal Villages Grapple with Siang River Erosion Crisis Amid Power Outages and Land Loss

Locals in the lowland villages of Mebo Sub-Division in East Siang district and Dambuk Sub-Division in Lower Dibang Valley district, Arunachal Pradesh, are reportedly enduring profound hardships from relentless soil erosion along the Siang River.

The ongoing degradation has demolished electrical networks, fertile farmlands, and residential structures, plunging the region into a critical power shortage.

The erosion has disrupted electricity in several East Siang villages, such as Seram, Kongkul, Namsing, Gadum-I, Gadum-II, and Mer, as well as Banggo and Paglam villages, encompassing the full Paglam circle in Lower Dibang Valley.

The crisis intensified over the weekend when a 1-kilometre segment of the 11kV power line was entirely swept away by the river's fury.

Power Department officials reported that prior repairs between New Borguli and Seram, completed after damage on September 19 and 27, have been undone by fresh erosion near the old Bakkul Saturday market. In Namsing, the destruction is acute, with multiple electricity poles uprooted. The nearby Eco-hut in D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary is now perilously close to the encroaching riverbank.

Mebo MLA Oken Tayeng and representatives from various departments conducted an on-site evaluation in Namsing and adjacent areas. Tayeng drew attention to the extensive devastation of croplands, pressing for urgent intervention. He stated that detailed reports on the flood-ravaged zones have been forwarded to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, and officials in the central government.

A detailed plan to build parallel flood barriers and embankments along the Siang River—from Sigar village to Mer and Paglam—remains awaiting approval and funding. Residents have persistently called for a multi-purpose flood control embankment and roadway on the river's left bank, stretching from Raneghat bridge to Paglam village. This infrastructure could connect to Assam through Dhola, akin to the Bogibeel and Sadiya bridges, offering enhanced regional linkage.

Experts warn that safeguarding Lower Mebo from yearly erosive assaults is unfeasible without these protective measures. Personnel from the Water Resources Department (WRD) and Public Works Department (PWD) have proposed merging two distinct initiatives—the Mebo-Dhola road project and Siang River erosion control—into one unified effort. This integration would reduce expenses while promoting tourism opportunities along the scenic riverfront.