Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday (December 19, 2024) said the government will not pursue a hydropower project if the local people do not want it.
Speaking at a political event in Siang district’s Boleng, he said the “chapter” on dams in specific areas would be “closed” while reacting to protests against the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).
“If you don’t want a dam, if you don’t want a hydropower project, there won’t be. Chapter closed,” he said.
He, however, said the issue was not about a hydropower project but a multi-purpose project of national importance envisioned by the Centre and the Niti Aayog.
Mr Khandu said misinformation was being circulated to brainwash innocent villagers against the SUMP, which is “not even in its pre-initial stage”. He added that those spreading misinformation and instigating people were confused about whether the project was of 10,000 MW, 11,000 MW, or 12,500 MW capacity.
“Neither I, as the Chief Minister, nor the NHPC is aware of the exact wattage of power the project will generate. How do you know the capacity of the project when the survey and investigation process has not even begun?” he asked.
He asserted that the project was not all about generating hydropower. “Hydropower generation is a by-product of the multi-purpose project by default. The real objective of the project is to save Ane (mother in the Adi language) Siang and the Adi society that is connected with the river since time immemorial,” he said.
China factor
Mr. Khandu insisted a multi-purpose project on the Siang would help minimise “unimaginable destruction” from a 60,000 MW hydropower project China has approved on Yarlung Tsangpo, the upstream of the Siang in the Tibet region.
He said the Chinese government, which is not signatory to the International Water Conventions, intends to divert the water from multiple water reservoirs to be created under the massive project to dry regions of Tibet and elsewhere in the country.
“In such a scenario, it is inevitable that the volume of water in Siang river will drastically get reduced so much that during winters, you will be able to cross the mighty Siang on foot. Would you like such a situation? I certainly won’t,” he said.
He said SUMP would also help if China releases water from their dams all of a sudden, triggering a trail of destruction through the Siang belt in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and Bangladesh downstream.
“We are optimistic that with the progress being made through bilateral talks with China, relations will improve but we cannot remain complacent and be prepared for the unseen,” Mr Khandu said.
He said the Centre proposed the SUMP to maintain the natural flow of water in the Siang River all year round and for flood modulation in case of excess water release by China. Reiterating that the State has about 50% of the country’s hydropower potential, he said the power generated from the SUMP would generate ₹10,000 crore for the State exchequer annually.
The Chief Minister negated “rumours” that the government intends to forcibly execute the SUMP by using the armed police forces. “We are a democratic country. We do not believe in forcing projects on our own people. We believe in taking into confidence the last man in the queue,” he said, adding the government was open to dialogues with the stakeholders.
He urged the committee constituted under the chairmanship of Tamio Taga, a former Minister and Adi community leader, to reach out to the apprehensive villagers and disperse all doubts and confusion about the SUMP.
“Take your time. Clear your doubts. We are not in any hurry,” he said.
Published - December 19, 2024 10:28 pm IST
