Two prominent media organisations in Arunachal Pradesh have condemned the reported restriction of news reports and videos concerning the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) on social media platforms, calling the development a threat to press freedom and the public’s right to information. The Arunachal Press Club (APC) and Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) said several journalists had reported that their SUMP-related videos and other journalistic content had either become inaccessible in India or faced restrictions in recent days.
In a joint statement, the organisations said some users attempting to access the content were reportedly informed that it had been temporarily restricted in accordance with legal requirements under India’s Information Technology rules. APC and APUWJ said they viewed the reported restrictions with serious concern, particularly because SUMP has become a subject of public debate in the state. They said the project involves important questions related to development, the environment, displacement, indigenous rights, national interest and the future of communities living along the Siang River.
The media bodies said restricting legitimate journalistic reports while protests, public discussions and dialogue between the government and communities affected by the proposed project were taking place could deprive people of information needed for informed public discourse. They argued that journalism should not be treated as an inconvenience simply because reports from the ground may be critical, uncomfortable or different from an official position. The organisations also stressed that reporting opposition to a project does not amount to opposing the government, while reporting a protest does not mean endorsing it.
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APC and APUWJ sought clarification from the Arunachal Pradesh government on whether any directions had been issued to social media platforms to restrict reports, videos, accounts or other journalistic material related to SUMP. They also asked the government to disclose the legal basis and grounds for any such action if an authority had sought the restrictions. The organisations demanded the restoration of legitimate journalistic content that may have been restricted solely because it covered the proposed project.
The statement came amid a claim by human rights lawyer and anti-dam activist Ebo Mili that his social media account had also been restricted in India. Mili alleged that the action was connected to his campaign against SUMP and the proposed Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) survey, describing the restriction as deliberate and expressing concern about possible further action against him. Opponents of the project have been demanding an immediate halt to the PFR survey and related activities, as well as the withdrawal of security forces deployed in areas that could be affected by the project.
The Arunachal Pradesh government has defended the proposed 11,000 MW SUMP, saying it could contribute to economic and social development, create employment and self-employment opportunities for local youth, and strengthen India’s water and energy security. The government has also maintained that the PFR survey is intended only to assess the feasibility of the project before any further process is undertaken. There was no immediate response from the state government to the allegations that SUMP-related journalistic content had been restricted on social media platforms.
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