Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has directed the Chief Secretary to take action against government employees and officials allegedly involved in ‘creating disturbances’ or opposing the proposed 11,000–12,500 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).

Khandu issued the direction during a meeting with officials from Siang and Upper Siang districts on Monday, amid growing resistance to the proposed mega hydropower project.

“We have issued instructions to the Chief Secretary to take action against all those employees and officials who have been trying to cause disturbances and opposition against the project. Government employees are bound to follow what the government instructs,” Khandu said on the sidelines of the meeting.

He described the SUMP as a national project and stressed the role of government officers and employees in creating awareness among local communities about its significance.

“Officers and employees play a very important role in our tribal society and they were briefed on the importance of the project so as to disseminate its significance to the local villagers, family and friends, along with its importance in national growth,” he said.

Khandu said the government would intensify its awareness campaign and that he would soon visit Siang and Upper Siang districts to interact with residents and government employees.

“We will create more awareness. I am scheduled to visit Siang and Upper Siang soon and will interact with locals as well. The Deputy Chief Minister, who is also the minister in charge of hydropower, will hold camps in the two areas, if necessary. I will attend them as well,” he said.

He also urged residents to raise concerns and seek clarification on any doubts about the project.

“We urge people to come forward and raise questions on every doubt or suspicion they have over the project. We are open for discussion and we will be answerable,” Khandu said.

On the deployment of security forces in Siang and Upper Siang amid the ongoing protests, Khandu said local people, as owners of the land, had to be taken on board.

“The ultimate owner of the land is its people. It is crucial to take them on board,” he said, adding that while some areas remained opposed to the project, around 75% to 80% of people were on board, according to the government’s assessment.

Khandu appealed to the public to support and cooperate with the project.

The Siang belt, primarily inhabited by the indigenous Adi community, has witnessed heightened opposition to the proposed project, which is to be executed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).

Local indigenous groups have raised concerns over possible ecological disruption, seismic risks and the displacement of villages and farmland in the Siang Valley.

Earlier, on September 13, the Upper Siang district administration directed the village headman of Geku to convene an all-stakeholder peace meeting amid resistance over the project.

The move followed protests against activities linked to the project’s pre-feasibility report. Villagers in Komkar and surrounding areas had also protested against proposed drilling activities at Uggen, one of the project sites.