Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ojing Tasing has met representatives of 72 villages in East Siang district to discuss concerns over the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) and its Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) following violent protests in Pasighat on October 23.
In a post on X, Tasing said the interaction provided an opportunity to discuss the project, address apprehensions and clarify misconceptions about its potential implications for downstream communities.
Tasing, who represents the Pangin Assembly constituency in Siang district, stressed the need to balance national priorities with local interests. He said a project of such significance must proceed with the trust and confidence of the people.
He also emphasised that transparency, dialogue and mutual understanding are essential to building public confidence, adding that the concerns, rights and legitimate interests of local communities must remain central to consultations and decision-making.
The proposed SUMP is a hydropower and water-storage project on the Siang river, with a planned capacity of around 11,200 MW. It is being examined for its potential to strengthen India’s energy and water security and support flood moderation.
The project has also assumed strategic significance amid concerns over possible upstream interventions in the Brahmaputra basin. However, it has prompted apprehensions among sections of the local population over its potential social and environmental consequences, particularly for the Adi tribal community inhabiting the Siang valley.
The ongoing PFR process is intended to assess the project’s feasibility and technical parameters before a final decision is taken on construction. The state government has maintained that the assessment must be completed before deciding whether and how the project should proceed.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu said in September that the PFR was necessary to establish the project’s technical viability and that the government did not intend to move beyond the feasibility stage prematurely.
In September, the state Cabinet also approved an empowered high-level committee to oversee PFR survey-related activities in Siang and Upper Siang districts, with Tasing as its chairman.