Itanagar – In a significant move signalling a more inclusive approach to large-scale development, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has issued a clear directive to officials: actively involve indigenous communities in the complete lifecycle of the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP). This massive 11,000 MW hydropower endeavour on the Siang River, a project of immense national importance, is now set to proceed with greater emphasis on local participation.
During a high-level review meeting convened in Itanagar, attended by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta, and top officials from the hydro power development department, CM Khandu underscored the critical need to integrate local feedback at every single stage of the project’s planning and execution. This pronouncement marks a departure from conventional top-down approaches, aiming to foster a sense of ownership and address potential concerns from the ground up.
The Chief Minister’s directive comes amidst budding signs of grassroots support for the ambitious project. Notably, villagers from Riga and Pangkang (Kumku), areas directly impacted by the proposed development, have already affixed their signatures to memorandums of understanding, effectively endorsing the pre-feasibility report (PFR) for SUMP. Khandu expressed optimism about this encouraging development, hailing it as a positive step towards a truly participatory model for hydropower planning in the state.
First proposed by NHPC back in 2009, SUMP is conceptualised as a run-of-the-river hydroelectric facility. Beyond its core function as a power generator, the project holds the potential to become a vital resource for irrigation and flood control in the region. Should it be built to its full proposed capacity, the reservoir associated with SUMP could become one of India’s largest, boasting an impressive storage volume of nearly 9 billion cubic metres, promising significant benefits for the state and the nation.
As the project progresses, government officials are slated to conduct further extensive community consultations. The focus of these upcoming engagements will be on ensuring absolute transparency in all dealings and meticulously addressing environmental safeguards, reflecting a commitment to sustainable development in the biodiverse region.
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