ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu said that Siang Top Multipurpose Project (SUMP), with an estimated cost of Rs 1.13 lakh crore, was being planned by the Center not only to generate electricity but also to maintain the natural flow of the river throughout the year and mitigate flood risks if China released the excess water.
Khandu’s comments came after China approved the construction of the world’s largest dam, costing $137 billion, on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, near the border with India.
The dam will be built in a gorge in the Himalayas, where the Brahmaputra makes a huge U-turn to flow towards Arunachal and then Bangladesh.
“The SUMP, with an estimated installed capacity of 11,000 MW, is not only about generating power, but also about maintaining the natural flow of the Siang River and mitigating potential flood risks due to water releases by China,” Khandu said. “The real goal of the project is to save the Siang River and the communities that have depended on it for generations,” he said. The study to prepare the pre-feasibility report for the projects is yet to be carried out amid opposition from locals concerned about displacement, loss of livelihood and environmental impact.
Warning of dire consequences if China’s project proceeds “without safeguards”, Khandu said plans to divert water from the Brahmaputra to its arid regions could drastically reduce the flow of the Siang River during winters.
Acknowledging the ongoing bilateral talks between India and China, the Prime Minister warned against “complacency” and underlined the need for India to remain vigilant.
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