'Siang dam project won’t be imposed on residents', says Arunachal CM Pema Khandu

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said the proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) will not be imposed on residents, stating that the government is currently seeking cooperation only to complete the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR). His remarks come amid protests by sections of the indigenous Adi community against the proposed dam.

Khandu seeks talks with local outfits

Khandu said he wanted to meet representatives of the Adi Bane Kebang youth wing and the Adi Students' Union after their recent media briefings. He said the government was prepared to explain the proposal directly to local organisations.

"I want to reach out to all the associations and units in the Siang area to try and provide more clarity about this project," he told reporters.

"Right now, we aren't even talking about building the dam. Right now, only the PFR needs to happen," he said, as quoted by ANI.

Also Read: Siang Valley on edge as arrests, CAPF deployment fail to deter anti-dam protesters

The Chief Minister said the government would decide whether to proceed only after the report establishes the project's feasibility. Even if the findings favour construction, residents would be consulted under the law.

"This project will not move forward without talking to the public," Khandu said. He added that recent meetings with local organisations had encouraged him to continue visiting the Siang region until the PFR process was completed.

Adi groups raise concerns over displacement

Khandu said misinformation about the proposal had reached residents, especially in Siang and Upper Siang districts. The 11,200-MW project is planned on the Siang River and is being pursued by the Centre through NHPC. It is intended to combine power generation with water management and strategic objectives.

Also Read: Arunachal dam row escalates as police target accused, anti-dam protests spread

Sections of the Adi community have opposed the proposal over fears that villages could be submerged, forcing people from their homes and ancestral land. Concerns have also been raised over livelihoods, ecological damage and the safety of a dam in a seismically active region.

Protests intensify, peace committee proposed

Protests intensified in September and October. On October 23, demonstrators set fire to an NHPC office and a police station in Pasighat. Vehicles and properties linked to political leaders were also damaged. The unrest led to additional security deployment.

Also Read: Arunachal erupts over Siang mega dam; BJP leaders’ homes attacked, NHPC office torched

Khandu met legislators and indigenous community representatives separately on October 25 to discuss the PFR, environmental concerns and national security. Four days later, a solidarity rally in Itanagar called for detained protesters to be released and cases against them withdrawn.

The Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum has proposed a peace committee to bring the government and opposing groups into talks. Local organisations have also demanded consultations and a halt to survey work until their concerns are addressed.