Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday sought to allay concerns over the proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (UMP), assuring protesting residents that no decision had been taken on dam construction and that their concerns would be addressed through dialogue and public consultation.
In an open letter addressed to the people of the region, Khandu referred to the protesters as “my beloved Adi brothers” and emphasised that the state government was not discussing the construction of a dam at the present stage. He said the government would proceed only after taking into account the aspirations and interests of local communities.
“I want to assure you that your voices, your land, your homes and our beloved 'Aane Siang' remain at the heart of every consideration. Your concerns will be addressed through open dialogue, transparency and meaningful public consultation,” he said.
The letter came as several organisations observed a 36-hour bandh in Upper Siang district on Monday, protesting against the proposed hydropower project. The initiative has faced sustained opposition from sections of the indigenous Adi community, particularly residents of areas likely to be affected.
Khandu explains need for project assessment
Acknowledging the growing apprehension among residents over the past few months, Khandu said he understood the concerns of mothers, elders, young people and families about the possible impact on their land, homes and the Siang River, which the community reveres as Aane Siang.
He said conflicting accounts and information surrounding the project had contributed to uncertainty and fear. Describing it as his responsibility to communicate directly with the people, the chief minister said he wanted to present the facts, hear their concerns and build the way forward through trust, dialogue and collaboration.
Khandu also addressed questions about the need to prepare a Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) for the project. He said the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project was declared a National Project by the Union Cabinet on February 7, 2008, and was currently among only 16 such projects in the country.
He said the preparation of the PFR was an essential step towards examining the project's technical and scientific feasibility, rather than an indication that construction had been approved.
China’s upstream dam raises water security concerns
Khandu linked the need to examine the project to developments across the border in China. He said national and international media had reported that China began constructing a dam in Medog County, around 40 km from the Indian border, on the Yarlung Tsangpo River on July 19, 2025, without consulting India or sharing information about the project.
Khandu said the Siang valley faced genuine water-related risks, including sudden and exceptionally high water flows with little warning and water scarcity during the dry winter months. He pointed out that nearly 65% of the Siang's water originates in China.
“The state government cannot control what happens upstream, but it can control on this side. We must prepare and build resilience,” he said.
He argued that the Siang UMP could be one of the options explored through scientific and technical assessments to identify feasible ways of maintaining ecological flows in the Siang and Brahmaputra rivers.
However, reiterating that no construction decision had been taken, Khandu said neither the Centre nor the Arunachal Pradesh government had approved the construction of the project.
36-hour bandh intensifies opposition to project
The chief minister's letter came amid a 36-hour bandh called by the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) and the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project Affected Area Youth Association (SAAYA), with support from community and student organisations.
The shutdown disrupted normal life, particularly in Upper Siang district, where markets, educational institutions, government offices and public transport services were affected. Protesters have demanded the release of people detained during earlier demonstrations, withdrawal of security forces deployed in the region and suspension of ongoing survey activities for the project.
The agitation follows violent protests in Pasighat on October 23, during which government properties, a police station and an office of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) were attacked. Additional security personnel were subsequently deployed in the region, further intensifying tensions between residents and the administration.
Sections of the Adi community fear that the proposed project could submerge 27 villages and affect several others, resulting in displacement, loss of agricultural land and damage to ancestral heritage.
Congress demands scrapping of Siang project
The Congress has also opposed the proposed hydropower project and demanded that it be scrapped.
In a statement, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee said development initiatives should not come at the expense of indigenous communities' ancestral land, identity, culture and livelihoods. It maintained that obtaining prior consent from people likely to be affected by the project was essential.
The party reiterated that national interest and energy security should not override the rights and concerns of indigenous communities.
The proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project is among India's largest planned hydropower initiatives and is being viewed by the Centre and the state government in the context of China's upstream dam construction. However, opposition from local communities over displacement, environmental consequences and the loss of traditional livelihoods continues to pose a major challenge to the project.