Itanagar: Emphasising the significance of the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), Arunachal Pradesh rural development and panchayati raj minister Ojing Tasing on Wednesday said it is pivotal to India’s long-term water and national security goals.The minister, however, said the state govt remains committed to safeguarding the rights and well-being of local communities, assuring that all indigenous concerns will be addressed through transparent dialogue and structured consultations before moving forward.Tasing, who represents Pangin assembly constituency in Siang district, said India cannot ignore the large-scale infrastructure development being undertaken by China upstream of the Siang, which is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet.“The SUMP carries profound significance for India’s water security and national security. At a time when China is undertaking massive infrastructure development upstream, India must remain prepared to safeguard its strategic interests and ensure that our water resources can never become an instrument of pressure against our nation,” he said.The minister, however, said national interest and the welfare of local communities should not be seen as competing objectives.He stressed that while the country must prepare for strategic challenges, the rights and interests of people living in the project area also have to be given due importance.“National interest and the welfare of our people must move forward together. As we secure the nation’s future, it is equally our solemn responsibility to protect the rights, interests and well-being of every citizen and community affected by the project,” Tasing said.He said the approach should be based on trust, consultation and development, rather than confrontation, adding that a secure nation and protected communities must remain at the centre of govt’s policy.“This balance, a secure India, protected people, and development pursued through trust and consultation, embodies the spirit of Nation First that guides CM Pema Khandu’s firm resolve on the Siang Project,” Tasing said.The proposed SUMP, envisaged with a capacity of around 11,000 MW, is planned as a major multipurpose project in the Siang region, to be executed by power giant National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).The project, however, has faced strong opposition from sections of villagers and indigenous organisations in Siang and Upper Siang districts.Protesters have raised concerns over the possible impact on ancestral land, agricultural areas, forests and the traditional way of life of communities living along the Siang valley. They have also expressed fears over displacement, ecological damage and the risks associated with building a mega project in a seismically active region.The opposition has intensified in recent weeks as govt agencies sought to carry out pre-feasibility activities at proposed project sites.Protesters have maintained that allowing the pre-feasibility study could eventually pave the way for construction of the dam, while the govt has maintained that the study is only meant to establish whether the project is technically feasible.The state govt has maintained that the project will not be taken forward merely on the basis of a proposal and that technical and other statutory assessments have to be completed first.Khandu had said if the project is found technically unviable after the pre-feasibility study, it will not be pursued. If found feasible, further assessments, including social and environmental impact studies, would be undertaken before subsequent stages.
