Siang dam project: Arunachal Pradesh CM assures Adi community, says no decision on construction yet

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has issued an open letter to local residents protesting against the proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (UMP). The outreach coincides with a 36-hour bandh called by several organisations in Upper Siang district on Monday. Addressing the demonstrators as "my beloved Adi brothers", Khandu clarified that the government is not contemplating active dam construction at this stage. He stressed that public fears will be addressed strictly through open dialogue, transparency, and meaningful consultation. Acknowledging growing confusion over recent months, Khandu noted that local families are naturally worried about potential threats to their homes, ancestral lands, and the revered 'Aane Siang' river.

The Chinese Upstream Threat

The Chief Minister outlined strategic security concerns to explain why preparing a Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) has become urgent. He highlighted media reports confirming that China began constructing a massive dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Medog County—roughly 40 kilometres from the Indian border—on 19 July 2025, without consulting India or sharing data. Because approximately 65 per cent of the Aane Siang's flow originates in China, the valley faces grave water risks. These include sudden, unannounced high-water surges alongside severe winter droughts. While India cannot alter upstream actions, Khandu argued that the state must build technical resilience to protect ecological flows in both the Siang and Brahmaputra rivers.

Statutory Mandate and Consent

Khandu reaffirmed that neither the Union Government nor the state administration has taken a decision to construct the Siang UMP. He pledged that no construction will proceed without extensive public consultation and formal local consent. This commitment, he noted, is legally mandated by both the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Calling this a binding personal pledge to the Adi community and the residents of Siang and Upper Siang districts, Khandu explained that the PFR is merely an initial exploratory step to gather facts. The project was originally designated a national project by the Union Cabinet on 7 February 2008 and is currently one of 16 national projects in India.

Opposition and Misinformation

Sustained opposition from sections of the indigenous Adi community stems from fears over village submergence, displacement, forest loss, and disruption of traditional life. Political opposition has also intensified, with the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee demanding the complete scrapping of the project. The Congress asserted that no development project should be executed at the expense of indigenous identity, culture, and ancestral land without prior consent. In response, Khandu refuted claims by critics that eviction orders or land takeovers had already been decided. He expressed distress over locals losing sleep due to false information and insisted that citizens deserve accurate facts.

Appeal for Peace

Emphasising that democratic disagreement is every citizen's right, Khandu urged protesters to reject violence. He warned that bandhs, blockades, and attacks accomplish nothing and only inflict suffering on local communities. Firmly stating that no individual is above the law, the Chief Minister cautioned against taking the law into one's hands. He appealed to all groups to give peace and progress a chance through transparent, constructive dialogue.