'Won't move forward without public': Arunachal CM amid protests over Siang project

NEW DELHI: Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu has assured residents that the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) will not be imposed on them, saying the government is currently seeking cooperation only to complete its Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR).

Speaking to reporters, Khandu said he was inviting the youth wing of Adi Bane Kebang (ABK) and the Adi Students' Union (AdiSU) for discussions following their recent media briefings on the project.

"I want to reach out to all the associations and units in the Siang area to try and provide more clarity about this project. Right now, we aren't even talking about building the dam. Right now, only the PFR needs to happen," he said.

Khandu said a decision on whether to proceed with the dam would be taken only after the PFR establishes its feasibility. Even if the project is found viable, the government would consult residents in accordance with legal provisions, he added.

"This project won't move forward without talking to the public," Khandu said, adding that he was encouraged by the response from local organisations during his recent interactions. He said he would continue visiting the Siang region until the PFR process was completed.

The chief minister also alleged that residents, particularly in Siang and Upper Siang districts, were being fed misinformation about the project. He said the government wanted to address their concerns through direct engagement.

The proposed 11,200-megawatt project is planned on the Siang river and is being pursued by the Centre through NHPC. Envisaged as a multipurpose storage project, it is expected to combine hydropower generation with water management and strategic objectives.

However, sections of the indigenous Adi community have consistently opposed the project, citing concerns over the possible submergence of villages, displacement, loss of ancestral land and livelihoods, and environmental damage. The project's location in a seismically active region has also raised questions about dam safety.

Protests intensified in October, with demonstrations turning violent in late September and again on October 23. Protesters set fire to an NHPC office and a police station in Pasighat, while several vehicles and properties linked to political leaders were damaged. The unrest has prompted additional security deployment and renewed efforts by the state government to initiate dialogue.

The Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum has also proposed setting up a peace committee to facilitate discussions between the government and groups opposing the project.

Khandu's latest outreach comes amid continuing demands from local organisations for meaningful consultations and a halt to survey activities until their concerns are addressed. Tensions have persisted over the past week. On October 25, Khandu held separate meetings with legislators and indigenous community representatives to discuss the PFR, environmental concerns and national security implications. On October 29, a solidarity rally in Itanagar demanded the release of detained protesters and the withdrawal of cases.

The Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum has since proposed a peace committee to facilitate dialogue. India's biggest proposed hydropower project, spread across three districts of Arunachal Pradesh's Siang valley, is being positioned as a strategic counter to China's mega dam planned upstream. However, the project has faced resistance from indigenous communities, particularly members of the Adi tribe, who fear that the reservoir could submerge villages and disrupt their deep-rooted ties with the Siang river.