New Delhi: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has assured residents protesting against the proposed 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project that their concerns will be addressed through transparent discussions and meaningful public consultation. He clarified that neither the state nor the central government has taken a decision to begin dam construction.
In an open letter issued on Monday, Khandu addressed the protesters as his “beloved Adi brothers” and acknowledged the anxiety surrounding the proposed hydropower project. He stressed that the land, homes, livelihoods and cultural identity of the local community would remain central to the government’s considerations.
The Chief Minister said the government would proceed only after taking into account the aspirations and interests of affected residents. He also acknowledged that conflicting information about the project had created uncertainty among families, elders and young people.
Khandu explained that the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project was declared a National Project by the Union Cabinet on February 7, 2008. He said preparing a Pre-Feasibility Report was necessary to scientifically examine the available options.
He also pointed to China’s reported construction of a dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Medog County, around 40 kilometres from the border, which began on July 19, 2025. According to Khandu, around 65 per cent of the Siang River’s water originates in China, making the region vulnerable to sudden water surges and shortages during dry winter months.
He said the state needed to prepare for possible water-related risks and explore scientific and technical solutions to maintain ecological flows in the Siang and Brahmaputra rivers.
His appeal came as several organisations staged demonstrations during a 36-hour bandh in Upper Siang district against the project.
The proposal has faced sustained opposition from sections of the indigenous Adi community over fears of village submergence, displacement, loss of agricultural land and forests, and disruption of traditional livelihoods.
The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee has also demanded that the project be scrapped, arguing that development must not come at the expense of indigenous communities’ land, identity, culture and livelihoods. It has called for the prior consent of people likely to be affected.
