ITANAGAR, Sep 29: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday stressed the need for preparedness and greater resilience in the Siang region, saying that while certain factors originating upstream may not be within the state’s control, measures can be taken within Arunachal Pradesh to manage their impact.
Khandu, who is on a two-day visit to the Siang region to engage with officials over people’s concerns related to the ongoing Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) survey for the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), shared a 27-second video on his X handle highlighting the contrasting water conditions of the Siang river and a local tributary.
In the video, he showed the muddy waters of the Siang river and the clear waters of a tributary originating within Arunachal Pradesh.
“Look at Siang river. Muddy, and coming to us from beyond our borders. Look at the tributary rising from our own land, clean and clear,” Khandu wrote.
He said the contrast underlined the importance of understanding what can and cannot be controlled and preparing accordingly.
“We may not have control over what the Siang brings to us from upstream. But we do have control over what we do on our side,” he said.
Khandu added that the state must strengthen its preparedness and resilience so that factors beyond its control do not overwhelm local communities.
The Chief Minister’s visit to the Siang region comes as the government continues consultations with local stakeholders regarding the SUMP PFR survey, which is intended to assess the project's basic feasibility and likely implications.