Itanagar, Nov. 6 -- Katon Mayong, an environmental engineer and anti-Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) activist, remains firm on his demand that no dam must be constructed on the Siang River in the valley revered by the Adi community. Speaking at a news conference at the Arunachal Press Club on Thurday, he asserted that the time for talks was over, stating that the entire Adi community would have to be "exterminated" if a dam were to be built here.

He said the indigenous communities in the Siang valley were not against development. He reiterated their appeal of building a dam on the river's tributaries instead of the mainstream.

"It has been 47 years since we have been shouting in the government's ear. From our grandfather's gener...