The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project continues to face resistance from sections of indigenous communities in Arunachal Pradesh following the state Cabinet’s decision to establish a high-level committee to coordinate survey activities. Approved on September 23, 2026, the resolution seeks to facilitate the pre-feasibility report process for the proposed mega-dam in Siang and Upper Siang districts. However, residents and community organisations have raised concerns about ancestral land, possible displacement, livelihoods and environmental safety. Recent protests have intensified the dispute, putting pressure on the government to balance its strategic and energy objectives with local concerns.
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Siang Upper Multipurpose Project Triggers Debate Over Cabinet Resolution
The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, approved an Empowered High-Level Committee to guide and coordinate the pre-feasibility report (PFR) survey and related activities for the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project.
The committee is chaired by Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ojing Tasing. It also includes Chief Minister’s adviser and Yingkiong-Tuting MLA Alo Libang, along with Geku-Mariyang MLA Oni Panyang.
According to the state government, the committee will support coordination with residents and help ensure that survey activities proceed transparently and peacefully. The Cabinet also emphasised the importance of sustained engagement with communities in Siang and Upper Siang districts.
The government has maintained that the project could strengthen India’s water and energy security, support flood moderation in the Siang-Brahmaputra basin and generate employment. It has also described the project as an opportunity for long-term economic development in the region.
However, the Cabinet resolution has not resolved the disagreement over the proposed infrastructure. Community organisations and residents continue to question the project’s possible consequences for traditional lands and local livelihoods.
The committee’s creation therefore represents an administrative step towards coordinating the survey rather than a resolution of all outstanding concerns. Meaningful consultation, access to reliable project information and clear explanations of potential impacts remain important to the debate.
The government has also expressed concern about what it describes as misinformation surrounding the project. Meanwhile, opponents argue that authorities must directly address community grievances and explain the risks before advancing survey activities.
This difference in positions has become central to the dispute. The government stresses the project’s strategic and economic significance, while sections of the local population want greater clarity about its implications for their communities.
Indigenous Communities Raise Concerns Over Land and Environment
Opposition to the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project centres on concerns about displacement, ancestral land, environmental damage and the safety of a large dam in a seismically sensitive region.
The proposed project, with a planned capacity of around 11,200 megawatts, would involve major infrastructure on the Siang River. Residents fear that the reservoir could submerge villages and disrupt the traditional way of life of indigenous communities, particularly members of the Adi community.
Representatives of the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum have warned that 27 villages could face complete submergence, while several dozen others could experience different levels of impact. These figures reflect concerns raised by opponents and should be understood in the context of a project whose detailed assessments remain important to determining its final footprint.
For many residents, ancestral land carries cultural and social significance beyond its economic value. Villages, agricultural areas and community spaces support livelihoods and preserve connections between generations. Consequently, uncertainty about potential relocation has contributed to opposition.
Environmental concerns also remain prominent. Critics have questioned the ecological effects of a major reservoir and the safety of large-scale construction in a region vulnerable to earthquakes and other geological hazards.
These concerns require detailed technical assessments and accessible explanations. Independent scrutiny, clear communication of findings and opportunities for affected communities to ask questions could help residents evaluate the risks.
The government, meanwhile, has argued that the project could strengthen water security and help moderate floods in the wider Siang-Brahmaputra basin. However, these potential benefits need to be considered alongside the project’s social, environmental and engineering implications.
The current pre-feasibility process is intended to examine the project’s viability. It does not, by itself, amount to final approval for construction. Nevertheless, opponents have demanded that survey activities stop until authorities address their concerns and establish meaningful engagement with affected communities.
Protests Intensify as Government Faces Calls for Dialogue
Resistance to the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project has continued through demonstrations, shutdowns and demands from community organisations. Tensions escalated in October as protesters challenged survey activities and questioned the government’s approach to local consultation.
On October 24, Chief Minister Pema Khandu appealed for peace after violent incidents in Pasighat. Reports described damage to an office of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), a police station and the residences of political leaders. Police personnel also sustained injuries during clashes.
Authorities subsequently imposed restrictions on gatherings in parts of East Siang district amid concerns about further violence. Reports on October 27 also described additional security personnel moving into the Siang Valley following the unrest.
These developments have complicated efforts to build trust between the government and opponents of the project. While peaceful protest remains an important means of expressing public concerns, violence and property damage have added to tensions and raised law-and-order concerns.
The Chief Minister has said that the government remains open to discussions with organisations and associations that want to raise questions about the project. On October 25, he held meetings with legislators and representatives of the Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum and community-based organisations.
The discussions covered the pre-feasibility process, national security, environmental concerns and the aspirations of people living in the Siang Valley. Khandu stressed the need for transparent communication and fact-based explanations.
However, not all groups have accepted the government’s consultation approach. Some organisations have called for security personnel to withdraw from affected areas, legal cases against protesters to be dropped and detained community members to be released before further talks proceed.
These demands show the challenges facing any consultation process. For discussions to make progress, participants will need to address disagreements over security, the survey and the conditions under which communities can express their views.
Strategic Importance and Project Assessment Remain Central
The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project has strategic significance because of the Siang River’s role in the Brahmaputra river system and developments upstream in Tibet.
China announced plans for a major hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in December 2024. The river enters India as the Siang before joining other rivers to form the Brahmaputra. The proposed Chinese project has prompted concerns in India about water security and the potential implications of large infrastructure upstream.
Indian authorities have presented the proposed Siang project as part of a broader effort to strengthen energy and water security. Its planned generating capacity could make it a major addition to the country’s hydropower infrastructure if it proceeds.
At the same time, strategic considerations do not remove the need to assess local consequences. The project’s future will depend on technical studies, environmental considerations, administrative decisions and the handling of concerns raised by affected communities.
The pre-feasibility report is an important stage in examining whether the proposed project can proceed. Survey findings can help establish technical conditions and inform further planning. Authorities must also communicate what the studies can establish, what remains uncertain and how residents can participate in discussions.
The Cabinet’s high-level committee could provide a channel for coordination between the government and local stakeholders. However, its effectiveness will depend on whether it facilitates open engagement and responds clearly to questions about land, displacement, environmental safety and livelihoods.
Ultimately, the debate extends beyond electricity generation. It concerns how major infrastructure projects can account for national priorities while respecting indigenous communities and their relationship with traditional lands.
The coming stages of the survey and consultations will therefore remain important. Clear information, credible technical assessments and sustained dialogue could help residents better understand the proposal, even as significant differences over its future continue.
Conclusion
The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project faces continued opposition after the Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet approved a high-level committee to coordinate its pre-feasibility survey. The government sees the proposed 11,200-megawatt project as strategically important for energy and water security, employment and regional development. However, sections of indigenous communities remain concerned about displacement, ancestral land, environmental damage and dam safety.
Protests and clashes in October have further complicated the situation. Chief Minister Pema Khandu has called for peace and held discussions with legislators and community organisations, while some opponents continue to demand changes to security arrangements and the handling of legal cases before participating in talks. The Cabinet resolution has established a coordination mechanism, but it has not removed the underlying disagreements.
The project’s next steps will require careful assessment and transparent engagement with affected communities. Authorities will need to explain survey findings, clarify potential impacts and address questions about local livelihoods and environmental risks. Balancing strategic objectives with community concerns will remain central to any further decision on the project.
FAQs
1. Why is the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project facing local resistance?
Sections of indigenous communities oppose the project because of concerns about displacement, loss of ancestral land, disruption of livelihoods, environmental damage and the safety of a large dam in a seismically sensitive region.
2. What did the Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet decide?
On September 23, 2026, the Cabinet approved an Empowered High-Level Committee to coordinate the pre-feasibility report survey and related activities for the proposed project.
3. What is the planned capacity of the project?
The proposed hydropower project has a planned capacity of approximately 11,200 megawatts.
4. Has the project received final approval for construction?
The current pre-feasibility survey is intended to assess the project’s viability. The survey process itself does not constitute final approval for construction.
5. What is the government doing to address opposition?
Chief Minister Pema Khandu has held discussions with legislators and community organisations and called for transparent communication and dialogue. However, some groups continue to demand action on security arrangements, legal cases and the concerns of affected residents.