ITANAGAR, Sep 21: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday appealed to people to support the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), saying the government would address their concerns.
Khandu's remarks came amid concerns over the possible impact of the proposed project on land, forests, rivers and communities.
"Ultimately, it is a national project, but the public is the owner. It is the land's owner. It is very important to take them on board," Khandu told reporters after a consultative meeting on the project here.
He said the government was open to discussions and urged people with questions or doubts to approach the authorities for clarification.
The Chief Minister also called for greater awareness about the project, stating that the government would conduct more awareness programmes to explain its technical aspects, significance and possible implications.
Khandu said a large number of villagers had already signed MoUs in connection with the project, while some, particularly in the Geku area, were yet to do so.
The government would continue its efforts to bring all stakeholders on board, he said.
His comments came after a meeting with officials from Siang and Upper Siang districts, where the proposed project, its significance and various technical aspects were discussed.
Khandu said officials from the two districts maintained close ties with their respective communities and understood the aspirations and sentiments of local people.
Their views were therefore important in taking development initiatives forward, he said.
The meeting also featured technical sessions with experts from Delhi, including representatives of the National Dam Safety Authority, Central Water Commission and Geological Survey of India, he added.
He urged government employees from Siang and Upper Siang posted across Arunachal Pradesh and elsewhere in the country to help create awareness about the project's significance.
Khandu said he would soon visit Siang and Upper Siang districts.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who holds the hydropower portfolio, would also camp in the two districts in the coming days, he said.
"Wherever necessary, I will also go there and camp," Khandu said, reiterating that the government was willing to listen to people's concerns and clarify their doubts.
The SUMP is a proposed multipurpose storage project on the Siang River with an envisaged installed capacity of around 11,000 MW.
Besides power generation, the government has projected the project as significant for water management and flood moderation. It has also cited its strategic importance because of the location of the Siang basin near the international border.
The NHPC Ltd has been entrusted with preparing the pre-feasibility report (PFR) and detailed project report, with survey and investigation activities forming part of the process.
However, sections of the local population have opposed the project, citing concerns over its possible social and environmental consequences.
The concerns include potential displacement and loss of ancestral land, impact on forests and river systems and the consequences of creating a large reservoir in a seismically sensitive region. Community groups have also questioned whether adequate consultation and awareness-building have taken place before survey activities.
The Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) has opposed the deployment of security forces for PFR-related activities and raised demands concerning arrested villagers, FIRs and action against local functionaries.
Other community organisations have also opposed the survey and demanded that villagers' concerns be addressed before the process is taken forward. (PTI)