Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Minister Ojing Tasing declared Sunday that the state will not compromise on national security regarding the 11,000-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. The project remains stalled. The minister represents the Pangin Assembly constituency in Siang district. He pushed back against local dissent by claiming over 80 percent of residents in impacted villages support the work.
Tasing stressed that the project provides vital power, flood moderation, and essential border security. Beijing is currently building heavy infrastructure upstream. China poses a threat. "National security is a central subject, and the state government has no say in such matters. The state cannot compromise on issues concerning national security," Tasing said.
NHPC Limited holds the contract for the massive installation. Indigenous groups like the Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum argue the project causes ecological ruin, seismic danger, and the loss of at least 25 settlements. They fear the destruction of tribal agricultural land.
Siang Deputy Commissioner Tayi Taggu insisted the project impact remains minimal. He stated that only 10 to 15 percent of structures in areas like Parong and Sitang face displacement. Most are temporary business setups. Taggu claimed over 90 percent of locals in Parong, Riga, Riew, Pangkang, Jorkong, and Sitang favor the move. Pre-feasibility agreements are already signed. Some sites near Geku and Yingkiong in Upper Siang might see changes.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu promised on September 29 that the government will scrap the plan if technical reports find it unviable. The standoff continues. Development clashes with tradition.
Updated at 5th October 2026 at 1:49pm
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein clarified that the project targets water storage and flood regulation over power generation. He noted the design includes a 280 to 300 meter high dam with 9.2 billion cubic meters of live storage to manage flows and mitigate potential damage from upstream releases. Mein emphasized that comparing the project to China's Medog development is misleading because the state intends to use the facility as a protective barrier for the Siang basin rather than a primary power station.
Protests turned violent recently at Riga and Ugeng as locals clashed with security personnel during survey work. The skirmishes left several protesters and CRPF members, including an Assistant Commandant, seriously injured. Demonstrators continue to demand a total stop to all preliminary activities and the immediate withdrawal of security forces from their land.
Updated at 5th October 2026 at 2:02pm
Tensions flared into open conflict on Monday as demonstrators set fire to a Central Armed Police Forces camp and trashed several vehicles during an anti-dam rally. The violence marks a sharp escalation in the dispute, leaving an Assistant Commandant and several rank-and-file officers injured alongside local protesters.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu had reached out to opposition groups, including the Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum, for a sit-down on October 5 to hash out concerns regarding the feasibility studies. The forum snubbed the invite, pushing for talks after October 11 to firm up their collective stance. Khandu insisted the ongoing work is strictly restricted to technical tasks like drilling for rock samples, not building the actual dam.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein countered the narrative that the project is just another power play. He pointed to a 280 to 300 meter high dam design boasting 9.2 billion cubic meters of storage, arguing the real goal is a protective barrier against extreme downstream surges. Mein rejected comparisons to China's Medog development, claiming the Siang facility functions as a shield for the basin rather than a power plant.
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