Chief Minister Pema Khandu has reportedly acknowledged the importance of involving local communities in the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP)-an 11,000 mw run-of-the-river hydroelectric project on the Siang river.
The project has remained stalled for years due to strong opposition from villagers likely to be affected. As the government prepares the pre-feasibility report (PFR) amidst ongoing resistance, the chief minister is said to have instructed officials to ensure that indigenous voices are integrated at every stage of the hydropower initiative.
He also stated that villagers from the project-affected areas of Riga and Pangkang (Kumku) are coming forward to support the PFR process. Whether this support holds true will be evident only if the PFR is actually allowed to proceed by the communities.
Nonetheless, the chief minister’s statement is a welcome shift, indicating that community involvement should be central to any further action on the project.