Guwahati, April 23 -- Simrin Sirur

On a cold February morning, the residents of Parong village in Arunachal Pradesh climbed up a hillslope and gathered in the village's large community hall. An air of caution filled the room - the Additional District Commissioner from the nearby Pangin village would be holding a meeting on an issue considered to be of national importance, with the potential to sink their homes: building an 11,200-megawatt hydropower project.

When ADC Gamtum Padu finally arrived, he had an unexpected message. "I want to tell all of you, on behalf of the administration, that we're sorry," he said. After months of antagonising the residents for opposing the dam, the administration now came with folded hands. "We want to li...