Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has invited political parties and groups for talks about the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Hydro Project. The government planned a meeting for October 5, 2026, at the East Siang deputy commissioner office in Pasighat. However, the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum asked to delay the meeting until after October 11, 2026. The forum spokesperson said they need time from October 4 to October 11 to discuss their stance on the project and the survey report.
Chief Minister Khandu previously met with local officials in Boleng on September 29, 2026, and with leaders from Siang and Upper Siang districts on September 21, 2026. He stated that the project is still in the early study phase and the current survey does not mean dam construction has approval. He noted that if the project is found unviable, it will not go ahead. Further steps like impact assessments and detailed reports will follow only if feasibility is proven, as detailed in the
official document.
The project was declared a national project in 2008 and is handled by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation. It has faced strong local opposition. Tensions grew on September 30, 2026, when protests led to property damage, road blockades, and police clashes. Khandu condemned the violence but stated that peaceful protest is a democratic right. The state administration maintains that large infrastructure projects need community agreement and fair compensation for landowners, as reported by
ANI News.
