Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said the state must examine possible measures to manage water risks in the Siang and Brahmaputra river system amid concerns over dam construction upstream in China. He described the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project as being at an exploratory stage, with no final decision on its implementation.
In a letter addressed to members of the Adi community, Khandu said public discussion was necessary to address concerns over land, homes and the river, locally referred to as Aane Siang. He said conflicting accounts had contributed to apprehension and that the way forward should be based on dialogue, trust and cooperation. The Chief Minister’s comments come as communities debate the possible environmental and social consequences of the proposed project.
“We cannot control what happens upstream, but we can control what we do on our side. We must prepare and build resilience.”
Khandu said the project could be one of the options to be examined scientifically and technically for maintaining ecological flow in the Siang River and the Brahmaputra. His formulation presents the project as a possible response under assessment, rather than as an approved construction decision. The statement does not announce a final design, construction schedule or land-acquisition plan.
Project status and upstream concerns
The Chief Minister said the project was declared a National Project on 7 February 2008 following a decision by the Union Cabinet. He added that it is currently one of 16 National Projects in the country. The preparation of a Pre-Feasibility Report is therefore being defended as an early technical exercise to identify whether feasible options exist.
| Issue | Details given by Pema Khandu |
|---|---|
| Project | Siang Upper Multipurpose Project |
| National Project status | Declared on 7 February 2008 |
| Current stage | Exploratory; preparation of a Pre-Feasibility Report |
| River system | Siang River and the Brahmaputra |
Referring to reports carried by national and international media, Khandu said China had begun construction of a dam in Medog County, about 40 km from the border, on the Yarlung Tsangpo River on 19 July 2025. The construction claim was presented in his letter as a matter of concern for Arunachal Pradesh; no Chinese response is included in the statement reported by the Economic Times.
Khandu said the valley faced two contrasting water-related risks: sudden and exceptionally high flows with little warning, and water scarcity during the dry winter months. He said approximately 65% of Aane Siang originates in China. The figures and risk assessment were part of the Chief Minister’s explanation for why technical preparation should proceed while public concerns are addressed.
Dialogue alongside technical assessment
The letter sought to reassure residents that exploration of the project did not amount to an immediate decision to build it. Khandu said the administration had a responsibility to place information before the public, hear concerns and counter misinformation. His emphasis on consultation reflects the sensitivity of a project involving a major river system and communities whose livelihoods and homes could be affected by any eventual intervention.
- The Siang project is being described as an option under scientific and technical examination, not as a final construction decision.
- Arunachal Pradesh has raised concerns about reported Chinese dam activity on the Yarlung Tsangpo upstream of the border.
- The state government says public dialogue is necessary alongside preparation of the Pre-Feasibility Report.
For readers in India, the immediate development is the state government’s justification for studying the project in the context of cross-border water risks, rather than an announcement of construction. Any subsequent decision would have to follow the technical assessment and the dialogue with affected communities outlined by the Chief Minister.
