The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet on Wednesday approved the formation of an empowered high-level committee to guide and coordinate pre-feasibility report (PFR) survey-related activities for the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), amid continuing opposition to the mega project from sections of the local population.
Rural development and Panchayati Raj minister Ojing Tasing will chair the committee, while CM’s adviser and Yingkiong-Tuting MLA Alo Libang and Geku-Mariyang legislator Oni Panyang will be its members.
The cabinet, headed by chief minister Pema Khandu, said the committee would facilitate engagement with people in Siang and Upper Siang districts and ensure that survey activities are conducted in a “transparent, peaceful and people-centric manner”. The cabinet said the voices, welfare and aspirations of likely project-affected families and local communities would remain central to the process.
The cabinet maintained that sustained and meaningful engagement with residents of the two districts was necessary for the peaceful conduct of PFR activities. SIFF also criticised the deployment of security personnel in project-affected areas and sought their withdrawal, contending that such deployment was inconsistent with the government’s stated position that the project would be pursued through consultation and consent. The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project is a large proposed 11,000-megawatt (MW) hydropower and storage project planned on the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh.
It also took note of concerns raised by some sections over what the government described as “misinformation and disinformation” being spread by “vested interests” about the project. The Centre and the state government have said the project is important for power generation, flood moderation and water security, besides bringing investment and employment to the region.
