Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu stated that his government will hold extensive consultations with affected communities if the Siang Upper Multi-Purpose Project moves past the feasibility stage.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu stated that the immediate priority is completing the Preliminary Feasibility Report to check technical viability. He explained that if experts find the project cannot be built, the process will stop. The report will take three months to check parameters in Seismic Zone V and assess water protection levels.
The project is viewed as a national initiative with strategic and security implications for India. Khandu referred to large water infrastructure projects announced by China and noted the need to examine the Siang project scientifically rather than through assumptions.
Khandu assured that public hearings and community meetings will occur before any further action. If the project proceeds, the government will engage with local villages, conduct Social Impact and Environment Impact assessments, and ensure proper compensation and relocation support for affected residents.
