Guwahati, Dec19: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has assured that the controversial Siang Upper Multipurpose Storage Project will not proceed without the consent of the local community. Speaking at a ‘Thanksgiving’ program for local legislator and Panchayati Raj Minister Ojing Tasing at Boleng, Khandu sought to clarify ‘misinformation’ regarding the project, which he described as one of national importance envisioned by the Government of India and Niti Aayog.
“If you don’t want a dam, if you don’t want a hydropower project, there won’t be. Chapter closed,” Khandu declared, addressing public concerns over the project. He emphasized, however, that the Siang project is not solely a hydropower initiative but a “multipurpose project” aimed at addressing multiple strategic needs, including flood control and ensuring the year-round flow of the Siang River.
Khandu urged community leaders and protestors to engage in open dialogue to clear misunderstandings. He emphasized that public consultation will be conducted before any project is finalized. “Only after Survey and Investigation will we know where the dam will come up, what height it will be, and how much will be the submergence area. Then will come the public hearing stage, where everyone will be consulted,” he said.
The Chief Minister called on a committee chaired by former minister and Adi community leader Tamio Taga to reach out to villagers and clear their doubts. “Take your time. Clear your doubts. We are not in any hurry,” he added, emphasizing that the government’s approach will be guided by transparency and public consensus.
Khandu criticized the spread of misinformation regarding the project’s capacity, noting that conflicting figures of ‘12,500 MW,’ ‘11,000 MW,’ and ‘10,000 MW’ were being circulated by those opposed to the project. “Being the Chief Minister, I am not aware, not even NHPC is aware of the exact wattage of power the project will generate. How do you know the capacity of the project when the survey and investigation process has not even begun?” he questioned.
He dismissed rumours that the government would use armed police forces to forcibly implement the project, reiterating, “We are a democratic country. We do not believe in forcing projects on our own people. We believe in taking into confidence the last man in the queue.”
Strategic Significance of the Project
Khandu highlighted the strategic rationale behind the project, pointing to China’s construction of a massive 60,000 MW dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which becomes the Siang River upon entering India. He warned that China’s project could drastically reduce the water flow in the Siang, especially during winter, to the extent that “you will be able to cross the mighty Siang on foot.”
“Would you like such a situation? I certainly won’t,” Khandu stated, adding that India’s project is designed to counter potential threats posed by sudden water releases from China’s dams, which could cause catastrophic floods downstream in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Bangladesh.
The Chief Minister said the central government’s proposed Siang Multipurpose Project aims to maintain natural water flow and provide flood protection, not just generate hydropower. “Hydropower generation is a by-product of the multipurpose project by default. The real objective of the project is to save Ane Siang and the Adi society that is connected with the river since time immemorial,” he said.
Economic Benefits and Hydropower Potential
Khandu highlighted Arunachal Pradesh’s vast hydropower potential, noting that the state accounts for 50% of India’s total hydropower capacity. He stated that 12,500 MW of power would be generated from projects for which Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), generating an estimated annual revenue of Rs 10,000 crore for the state exchequer.
“Please be informed that the 12,500 MW I am mentioning does not include the Siang project. We do not know yet the amount of power that this project will generate if at all executed,” Khandu clarified.
