Komkar village in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Siang district has formally agreed to proceed with pre-feasibility studies for the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), with village leaders and the state government signing a memorandum of understanding to begin preparation of the project’s pre-feasibility report (PFR).
The MoU, signed virtually in the presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, senior ministers and officials, recorded consent from 245 of the village’s 257 households, a level of support exceeding 95 per cent. Village representatives told officials they support studies that assess long-term safety, water security and the potential benefits for the Siang belt and the Adi community.
Siang Upper Multipurpose Project: what the PFR will examine
The PFR will evaluate technical, environmental and social parameters for the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, a scheme declared of national importance by the Centre in 2008. Authorities said the project is intended to combine hydropower generation with flood moderation and measures to maintain ecological flow in the Siang basin. The study will consider hydrological risks, including scenarios involving upstream diversions, and how the project could contribute to water security for Arunachal Pradesh and downstream Assam.
Chief Minister Khandu emphasised that the MoU authorises only the preparation of the PFR and does not imply approval for construction. He said no decisions on building the project will be taken without extensive consultations and consent from all affected families. Officials described the Komkar agreement as the first formal village-level endorsement for the PFR process in Upper Siang, following earlier similar commitments from four villages in neighbouring Siang district.
State ministers and officials praised the months-long engagement that preceded the MoU. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ojing Tasing noted that household-level discussions had continued for more than a year, and said the approach aimed to build a participatory model of decision-making. Mariyang-Geku MLA Oni Panyang described the outcome as an example of collective community deliberation supporting strategic development.
The state government also highlighted a Rs 350 crore special development package announced by the Centre for Siang and Upper Siang districts. The package is targeted at education, healthcare, livelihoods and infrastructure, and officials urged Komkar to form a village development committee to prioritise projects under the scheme.
Officials underlined that further steps will depend on the PFR’s findings, transparency in sharing results and continued community consent. They said the study will address disaster mitigation measures and potential benefits for regional stability and downstream protection, while also identifying environmental safeguards that would be required if the project proceeds.
Observers said the Komkar MoU signals growing local engagement in a project that carries strategic and environmental significance. While supporters point to potential gains in power generation and flood management, critics have previously urged rigorous assessment of ecological impacts and full, free and informed consent for any displacement or land-use changes. State officials maintained that these concerns will be central to the PFR and subsequent consultations.
As the PFR gets under way, attention will centre on the study’s technical findings and the extent to which neighbouring communities choose to follow Komkar’s lead. The process is likely to shape the debate over balancing infrastructure development, water security and ecological protection in one of India’s most sensitive river basins.
Key Takeaways:
- Komkar village in Arunachal Pradesh gave over 95% consent to prepare a PFR for the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project.
- The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project aims to deliver hydropower, flood moderation and ecological flow management.
- Officials stress the PFR is only a study; construction decisions will follow further consultations and consent from affected families.
- A Rs 350 crore Centre package and local development planning will accompany the PFR process.
