ITANAGAR, Sep 30: The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has sought greater transparency and meaningful public consultation over the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) and the ongoing Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) exercise.
In a statement on Wednesday, APCC general secretary-cum-spokesperson Kon Jirjo Jotham said the government’s assurance that no final decision had been taken on SUMP was welcome, but questioned the urgency of completing the PFR amid continuing opposition from sections of indigenous communities in the Siang region.
The APCC sought a clear assurance that completion of the PFR would not create any legal, financial or administrative obligation to proceed with the project. It also called for the PFR’s terms of reference, methodology, technical assessments and potential project footprint to be placed in the public domain.
The APCC leader also sought clarification on the reported deployment of police and paramilitary personnel in project-affected areas and alleged efforts to obtain land-related documents or consent from villagers. He said no community should feel pressured to support a project whose final status remains undecided.
The APCC further urged the government to explain how the views of affected communities would be incorporated into the decision-making process and whether the project could still be reconsidered even if the PFR establishes technical feasibility.
“Technical feasibility cannot automatically become social consent,” Jotham said, calling for a transparent and participatory process before SUMP moves forward.
He said the concerns of communities along the Siang river, including potential social, economic and environmental implications, should be fully considered in any decision on the project.