Addressing concerns among the Adi community, Khandu said the government is currently considering only a Pre-Feasibility Report and that no final decision has been taken on the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has assured residents of the Siang region that no decision on constructing the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) will be taken without extensive public consultation and the consent of the people.
In a detailed statement addressed to the Adi community, Khandu acknowledged growing concerns over the proposed project, stressing that the government is currently discussing only the preparation of a Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR), which will assess its viability, possible implications and alternative options. He clarified that the report does not amount to final approval or mean that a dam will be built.
Explaining the project’s strategic significance, the Chief Minister referred to China’s reported construction of a dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Medog County, around 40 km from the border.
Furthermore, the CM said the Siang region faces potential water-related risks, including sudden high flows and water scarcity, making it important to examine possible measures to protect the river’s ecological flow.
Khandu said any future decision would follow public consultations and legal requirements under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
He also urged people not to believe misinformation, defended the right to peaceful disagreement and appealed for dialogue, while warning that violence and threats would not be tolerated.
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