Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu assures no decision on the 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project will occur without public dialogue and local consent, addressing upstream dam concerns and ongoing community protests.
In a major effort to ease mounting tensions in the Siang valley, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu addressed an open letter to the indigenous Adi community, reaffirming that no final decision regarding the construction of the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) will be made without transparent dialogue, widespread public consultation, and the explicit consent of the affected people.
The Chief Minister’s statement comes in the wake of continued demonstrations, public rallies, and civil resistance across Siang and Upper Siang districts. Local communities have expressed severe apprehension regarding the massive 11,200-megawatt hydropower initiative, fearing large-scale displacement, loss of ancestral territories, and the ecological disruption of the Siang River—revered regionally and culturally as Aane Siang (Mother Siang).
Addressing these concerns directly, Khandu acknowledged the profound anxiety shared by local mothers, elders, students, and family households. He emphasized that the protection of indigenous rights, ancestral lands, and the sacred river remains the central priority of the state administration.
Dispel claims of immediate execution, Khandu explained that administrative procedures currently underway involve only the drafting of a Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR). This preliminary assessment aims to scientifically evaluate river hydrology, environmental factors, socio-economic impacts, and potential technical alternatives. The Chief Minister made it clear that commissioning a feasibility study is entirely exploratory and does not constitute formal clearance or construction approval by either the state government or the Centre.
A significant dimension of the Chief Minister’s address centered on transboundary water security and geopolitical developments in the upper reaches of the river basin. Khandu highlighted reports indicating that upstream construction activities began in July 2025 on the Yarlung Tsangpo in Medog County, located roughly 40 kilometers from the international boundary. Given that approximately 65 percent of the water volume feeding the Siang basin originates across the border, unilateral upstream alterations create significant downstream risks for both Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
These risks encompass severe seasonal flow variations, including sudden unannounced water releases leading to catastrophic flash floods, as well as critical water shortages during dry winter months. The Chief Minister stressed that while downstream states cannot influence external hydrological interventions, building domestic technical resilience and protective water storage capacities remains essential to safeguard regional ecology and human settlements along the Brahmaputra river network.
Simultaneously, the Chief Minister dismissed circulating narratives suggesting imminent land acquisition and forced eviction as baseless rumors. He appealed directly to grassroots stakeholders to rely on verified government communications rather than speculative reports designed to provoke panic. While validating peaceful assembly and civic dissent as core tenets of democratic governance, Khandu firmly discouraged coercive measures such as bandhs, road blockades, and economic shutdowns, warning that localized disruptions primarily harm regional livelihoods and vulnerable families.
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The Chief Minister concluded his message by commending the Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum and regional civil society organizations for facilitating balanced discussions, reiterating an open invitation for constructive engagement with public officials to ensure the lasting security and heritage of the Siang valley. Declared a National Project by the Union Cabinet in February 2008, the Siang initiative represents one of only 16 designated national-priority infrastructure projects across India.
