Siang hyropower project aims to regulate waters storage, reduce flood risk: Arunachal deputy CM

Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh - Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein announced the proposed 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) on Monday, emphasizing its primary focus on water storage and management in the Siang basin. Mein highlighted that while the project will generate power, its core function is to store, regulate, and manage water, which is crucial in light of concerns over a proposed mega dam in China's Medog region.

The SUMP's dam height is expected to be around 280-300 metres, with a live storage capacity of about 9.2 billion cubic metres. Mein stressed that the project's emphasis on water storage and regulation, rather than just power generation, is vital, especially in managing sudden releases or extreme flows from upstream, which could help prevent flooding in the Siang basin and downstream areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

Despite opposition from locals demanding the cessation of Pre-Feasibility Report activities and survey work, the government maintains that the 11,000 MW project will drive economic and social growth, generate employment, and strengthen water and energy security for the state and the nation.