19/12/2024
Chief Minister Pema Khandu has assured that no hydropower or dam project will be executed without the consent of the people.
โIf you donโt want a dam, if you donโt want a hydropower project, there wonโt be. Chapter closed,โ he said while addressing concerns over protests against the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project in Siang district.
Clarifying the nature of the project, Khandu said, โThe case at hand is not about a hydropower project. Itโs about a Multipurpose Project, a project of national importance envisioned by the Government of India and the Niti Aayog.โ
Speaking at the โThanksgivingโ program of local legislator and Panchayati Raj Minister Ojing Tasing following his electoral victory, Khandu emphasized that misinformation was being spread to mislead villagers about a project that is not even in its preliminary stages.
He highlighted the confusion surrounding the projectโs specifications. โPeople who are instigating the protests are themselves unsure whether the projectโs capacity is โ12,500 MWโ, โ11,000 MWโ, or โ10,000 MW.โ
He further questioned, โBeing the Chief Minister, I am not aware, not even NHPC is aware of the exact wattage of power the project will generate. How do you know the capacity of the project when the survey and investigation process has not even begun?โ
Khandu asserted that the projectโs primary objective is not hydropower generation but to address critical concerns linked to the river Ane Siang and the Adi community, which has longstanding ties with the river.
โHydropower generation is a by-product of the multipurpose project by default. The real objective of the project is to save Ane Siang and the Adi society that is connected with the river since time immemorial,โ he explained.
He also cited the potential threat from Chinaโs plans to construct a massive 60,000 MW hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo, just before it enters India.
โThe Chinese government, which is not a signatory to International Water Conventions, intends to divert the water to arid regions in Tibet and elsewhere,โ he said, warning that this could drastically reduce the Siangโs flow, particularly during winters.
โIn such a scenario, you may find yourself crossing the mighty Siang on foot. Would you like such a situation? I certainly wonโt,โ Khandu said.
He also raised concerns about sudden water releases by Chinaโs dams, which could lead to catastrophic flooding in the Siang belt, Assam, and Bangladesh.
โYes, we are optimistic about improving relations with China through bilateral talks, but we cannot remain complacent. We must prepare for unforeseen scenarios,โ he said.
The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, proposed by the central government, aims to ensure consistent water flow and flood control, he said.
Khandu noted that Arunachal holds about 50% of Indiaโs hydropower potential and added that projects generating 12,500 MW, for which MoUs have been signed, could bring around โน10,000 crore annually to the state exchequer.
However, he clarified that this figure does not include the Siang project.
Dispelling rumors of forced ex*****on of the project, Khandu said, โWe are a democratic country. We do not believe in forcing projects on our own people. We believe in taking into confidence the last man in the queue.โ
He invited people to ask questions and clear their doubts, assuring them that the projectโs detailsโincluding the damโs location, height, and submergence areaโwould only be determined after thorough surveys and public hearings.
โThere are several stages with prudent rules and guidelines before the start of a project. We havenโt even begun, and all this hue and cry has started,โ he observed.
The chief minister urged the committee led by former minister and senior Adi community leader Tamio Taga to engage with villagers and address their concerns.
โTake your time. Clear your doubts. We are not in any hurry,โ he assured.
