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Adi Community Demands Scrapping of Siang Upper Multipurpose Project
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News18•22-09-2026, 19:15
Adi Community Demands Scrapping of Siang Upper Multipurpose Project
- •The Adi Bane Kebang-United (ABK-U) urged the Arunachal Pradesh government to scrap the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).
- •The organization claims the mega dam could submerge villages, agricultural land, and adversely affect the Adi community's ancestral heritage, culture, and the ecology of the Siang Valley.
- •ABK-U president Thomas Borang stated that the government should not invoke "national interest" to justify a project causing hardship to affected people.
- •The Adi community adopted a four-point resolution demanding SUMP's scrapping, cancellation of pre-feasibility report agreements, withdrawal of security forces, and reinstatement of suspended village heads.
- •Chief Minister Pema Khandu emphasized the project's national importance and the need to take local communities on board, promising awareness programs and addressing concerns.
Key Questions Answered
The Adi Bane Kebang-United (ABK-U) claims that the mega dam could submerge villages and agricultural land, harm ancestral heritage and culture, and severely damage the ecosystem of the Siang Valley.
The resolution demanded the scrapping of the SUMP proposal, cancellation of PFR-related agreements, withdrawal of excess security forces from Siang and Upper Siang, and the reinstatement of suspended village heads.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu stated that the government remains open to discussions, emphasized that local citizens are the landowners, and promised to run more awareness programs to address public doubts before taking the project forward.
