Bordumsa: Amid growing opposition and public concerns over the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has assured that no decision on dam construction will be taken without extensive public consultations and the consent of the people.
Clarifying the government’s current position, Khandu said the exercise underway is limited to the preparation of a Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR), which does not constitute approval for construction or displacement.
In a detailed statement addressed to residents of Siang and Upper Siang districts, the Chief Minister sought to address concerns over possible forced displacement, acquisition of ancestral land without consent and the submergence of settlements. He said the preliminary assessment is intended to examine the project’s viability, understand its potential impact and identify possible alternatives.
The assurance comes amid growing apprehension across the Siang region, where concerns over ancestral land, displacement, cultural identity and environmental consequences have become major points of contention.
Highlighting the project’s strategic significance, Khandu referred to China’s reported commencement of dam construction in Medog County along the Yarlung Tsangpo river on July 19, 2025. The site is reportedly around 40 km from the international border, and the construction was undertaken without consultation with India or information being shared with the downstream country.
Khandu said nearly 65 per cent of the Siang river’s water originates in China, raising concerns over possible changes in downstream water flows. He warned that the region could face uncertainties ranging from sudden and unusually high water discharge to water shortages during the dry winter months.
Against this backdrop, he argued that Arunachal Pradesh must remain prepared for developments upstream through scientific assessments and technically sound measures. He said the Siang UMP could be among the options examined to help safeguard ecological flows in the Siang and Brahmaputra rivers.
The project was declared a National Project by the Government of India on February 7, 2008, following a Union Cabinet decision. Khandu noted that it is among 16 projects accorded National Project status in the country.
However, the Chief Minister stressed that the ongoing PFR exercise should not be interpreted as approval for the construction of a dam. He described it as an initial assessment to establish the project’s basic feasibility, examine its possible consequences and consider alternatives before any decision is taken.
Referring to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986, Khandu said public consultation and consent would remain central to the process. He described his assurance as a personal commitment to the people of Siang and Upper Siang, the Adi community and the wider population of Arunachal Pradesh.
Khandu also criticised what he described as misinformation about the project, alleging that certain individuals and groups were spreading claims that dam construction had already received approval and that families would be forcibly displaced from their ancestral land. He said such claims were fuelling unnecessary fear and uncertainty.
While defending the government’s approach, Khandu cautioned against protests turning violent, saying bandhs, blockades and attacks would only add to public hardship. He maintained that nobody was above the law and warned against taking the law into one’s own hands.
The Chief Minister also acknowledged the efforts of the Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum and various community-based organisations to promote peace and encourage constructive dialogue in the Siang region.
Appealing directly to the Adi community, Khandu urged residents not to let rumours, anger or misinformation determine the region’s future. He said public representatives, government officials and he himself were willing to engage in open discussions with the people.
The statement comes as the state government faces the challenge of addressing the strategic and water-security implications of China’s infrastructure development upstream while responding to deep-rooted concerns among indigenous communities over land, livelihoods, cultural identity and environmental protection.
Whether Khandu’s latest assurances will help rebuild public trust remains to be seen. The project’s future is likely to depend not only on its technical and strategic feasibility but also on the confidence and consent of the communities that could be affected.