Latest news with #ChownaMein
The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Arunachal CM pushes for local consensus on Siang Upper Multipurpose Project
Chairing a high-level review meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, chief secretary Manish Kumar Gupta, and senior officers from the hydro power development department at the civil secretariat here, Khandu said, 'Their (indigenous) feedback must be duly considered at every stage.' The statement comes amid growing signs of local acceptance for the controversial project, with villagers from Riga and Pangkang (Kumku) recently signing MoUs in support of a Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. He told officials to ensure that indigenous voices are integrated into every stage of the hydropower initiative. Itanagar, Jul 21 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday underscored the importance of local people's participation in the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP). The chief minister expressed satisfaction over reports that villagers from the project-affected areas are coming forward to support the preparation of the PFR, terming it a positive development for participatory hydropower planning. The SUMP is a proposed 11,000 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric project on the Siang River, one of the major tributaries of the Brahmaputra. Originally conceived by NHPC in 2009, it is envisioned not just as a power generator but also a critical tool for irrigation and flood moderation. The reservoir, if built to full scale, would be among the largest in the country, with a storage capacity of nearly 9 billion cubic metres. PTI COR UPL UPL RG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
98 Riew households back Siang Upper dam project
Itanagar: In a major boost to hydropower development in Arunachal Pradesh, 98 households from Riew village in Siang district have given their consent for the pre-feasibility report (PFR) of the 11,000 MW Siang Upper multipurpose project. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now An MoU was signed on Friday in the presence of deputy chief minister Chowna Mein, panchayati raj minister Ojing Tasing, chief secretary Manish Kumar Gupta, Siang deputy commissioner PN Thungon, and residents of Riew. Officials said Riew is the second-largest village in the Siang belt, and the consenting households make up nearly 62% of the village population — marking a shift in public sentiment toward the mega-dam project, which previously faced strong opposition across the Siang belt. Earlier this month, over 300 households from Riga — the largest village in the belt and formerly a hub of resistance — also gave their consent to the project's PFR. Welcoming the development, Mein, who also holds the power portfolio, called it an important milestone in the govt's transformative hydropower initiative — a journey he said was rooted in "dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect". "In a democratic country with a people-friendly govt, we believe in earning the public's confidence and making them equal partners in development. Through awareness, technical education, and trust-building, we've brought communities on board," he added. The deputy CM said the project reflects the govt's commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth. "From roads to hydropower, every project today echoes the vision of a #ViksitBharat. This MoU reaffirms that inclusive development is possible when government and people move forward together — not in opposition, but in understanding," he said. Support for the project is rising at a time when China has begun constructing a major dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo — known downstream as the Brahmaputra — raising new concerns in India and Bangladesh.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
98 households of Arunachal's Riew village backs 11,000 MW Siang upper hydropower project
Itanagar, In a boost to hydropower development in Arunachal Pradesh, 98 households of Riew village in Siang district have given their consent for the pre-feasibility report of the 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project . 98 households of Arunachal's Riew village backs 11,000 MW Siang upper hydropower project A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed here on Friday in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, cabinet minister Ojing Tasing, chief secretary Manish Kumar Gupta, Siang deputy commissioner P N Thungon and villagers of Riew. Officials said Riew is the second-largest village in the Siang belt and the consenting households constitute nearly 62 per cent of the population, marking a turning point in public response to the mega-dam project that once faced stiff resistance in the area. Earlier this month, over 300 households from Riga, the largest village in the area and previously a key site of opposition, also gave their consent to the project's PFR. Welcoming the development, Mein, who also holds the power portfolio, said the development marks another important milestone in the government's transformative hydropower initiative, a journey which he termed is rooted in "dialogue, understanding and mutual respect." "Being a democratic country with a people-friendly government, we believe in taking the people's confidence and making them equal partners in development. Through awareness, technical education and trust-building, we've brought communities onboard," he said. The deputy chief minister further said the SUMP reflects the government's broader commitment to sustainable and inclusive development. "From roads to hydropower, every project today echoes the vision of a #ViksitBharat. This MoU reaffirms that inclusive development is possible when the government and the people move forward together, not in opposition, but in understanding," he said. The growing support for SUMP comes at a time when China has begun construction of a major dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, known downstream as the Brahmaputra, triggering fresh concerns in India and Bangladesh. While Beijing has defended the project and attempted to allay fears, experts in India have warned of possible long-term implications for water security, water flow regulation, and ecological sustainability. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
China's $170 bn dam on Brahmaputra: Should India worry?
Three Gorges Dam in China on Yangtze river is the biggest in the world. Now China has started building an even bigger dam. As per Xinhua news agency, China's Premier Li Qiang has announced that construction has begun on the dam on Yarlung Zangbo — the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra river — on the eastern rim of the Tibetan Plateau near the Indian border, at an estimated cost of at least $170 billion. It will have the capacity to produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, equal to the amount of electricity consumed by Britain last year. It's expected to be completed in the 2030s. While India and Bangladesh have already raised concerns about its possible impact on the millions of people downstream, China has said the dam will help meet power demand in Tibet and the rest of China without having a major effect on downstream water supplies. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Operations Management CXO others Data Analytics healthcare Data Science MCA Others Leadership Public Policy Digital Marketing Data Science MBA PGDM Technology Design Thinking Management Degree Artificial Intelligence Healthcare Product Management Cybersecurity Project Management Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details China's " water bomb " aimed at India? India has raised concerns over the dam, as it not only empowers China to control the river's water flow but also poses the risk of flooding border areas by releasing large volumes of water during potential hostilities due to its sheer size and scale, news agency PTI had reported. India is also constructing its own dam on the Siang River, as Brahmaputra is called in Arunachal Pradesh , the Upper Siang Multipurpose Project. In March, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said that if China builds the massive dam over Yarlung Tsangpo river and diverts its water, it will dry up the Siang river and its distributaries affecting the aquatic life of the river and the large population in the plains of Assam and Bangladesh which depends on Brahmaputra river for the irrigation of their agricultural fields. On the other hand, in case, if any conflict arises between the two nations in future, it may release a large volume of water from the dam, which would cause unpredicted flooding in the downstream areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam causing loss of lives and properties. In April, BJP MP from Arunachal East, Tapir Gao, described China's planned dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo as a "water bomb" that China could unleash against India and other downstream nations. "We have two options — raise our voice, though Xi Jinping will not listen; or build an alternative large dam to counter the Chinese water bomb," Gao said. Live Events "China isn't merely building dams; it's creating 'water bombs'. The devastation such actions can cause was evident in 2000 when floods triggered by a massive water release washed away nearly all the bridges on the Siang river, as the Yarlung Tsangpo is called in Arunachal Pradesh. Pasighat airport was submerged under 7 feet of water at the time," Gao said. Gao backed a proposal to build a dam on the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh to mitigate downstream disasters. "Experts informed me the dam could have a 25-metre buffer level extending up to 15km, capable of retaining substantial water during sudden releases and averting disaster. Public consultations are ongoing regarding the proposed dam," he said. However, Chinese foreign ministry's spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in January that the dam would, to some extent, contribute to downstream disaster prevention, mitigation, and climate change response. This was in response to a question about India's concerns regarding the dam, which were discussed during talks between Indian officials and the visiting then US national security advisor, Jake Sullivan. Should India worry? Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday tried to alleviate fears on China's move to construct the world's largest dam on Brahmaputra and said he does not foresee any immediate cause of worry as the river gets most of its waters from Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. Speaking to reporters, Sarma said the exact impact of the massive dam, the construction of which began last week, is not properly known as different theories are being floated, and hoped that the Centre must be in touch with China on the matter. "First -- if Brahmaputra's flow is disturbed by China, then there may be less water and consequently biodiversity will be affected. But there is also a counter view that if less water comes, it will also act as a flood cushioning. So, I don't know which one is correct," he added. Sarma said that the Centre is a better judge on this topic and it will take a call on this. Unlike the Indus system, where India holds the upstream advantage and Pakistan remains critically dependent on downstream flows, the Brahmaputra dynamic is less binary. As per a TOI article published in July, China commands an upstream position but its leverage is not absolute. Brahmaputra gains most of its volume only after it enters India, fed by torrential tributaries like Lohit, Dibang, and many others draining the eastern Himalayas. Yarlung spans 1,625 km across the Tibetan plateau and seems, at first glance, a river shaped upstream. Only, as it plunges through the Siang gorge into Arunachal and transforms into Brahmaputra, its character changes dramatically. Contrary to the common assumption that upstream means control, Tibet contributes only about 14% of the river's total annual flow. A staggering 86% is generated within India — driven largely by intense monsoon rains and a network of torrential tributaries in Arunachal and Assam. But the real threat is not of deprivation. It is of sudden inundation. If China releases large volumes of water during the flood season, it is India's northeast, particularly Arunachal and Assam, that stands most exposed, as per the TOI article. While China cannot easily weaponise the river by cutting off its flow, the risk will stem from sudden surges — be it from upstream dam releases, engineering misjudgements, or the erratic extremes of a warming climate. For Arunachal and Assam, already battered by recurrent monsoon floods, such shocks could prove devastating. China doesn't have a pact with any of the lower riparians. India and China did sign an MoU in 2013 but Indian officials said China has not always been open about sharing hydrological data.
News18
21-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Arunachal CM pushes for local consensus on Siang Upper Multipurpose Project
Itanagar, Jul 21 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday underscored the importance of local people's participation in the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP). He told officials to ensure that indigenous voices are integrated into every stage of the hydropower initiative. Chairing a high-level review meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, chief secretary Manish Kumar Gupta, and senior officers from the hydro power development department at the civil secretariat here, Khandu said, 'Their (indigenous) feedback must be duly considered at every stage." The statement comes amid growing signs of local acceptance for the controversial project, with villagers from Riga and Pangkang (Kumku) recently signing MoUs in support of a Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. The chief minister expressed satisfaction over reports that villagers from the project-affected areas are coming forward to support the preparation of the PFR, terming it a positive development for participatory hydropower planning. The SUMP is a proposed 11,000 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric project on the Siang River, one of the major tributaries of the Brahmaputra. Originally conceived by NHPC in 2009, it is envisioned not just as a power generator but also a critical tool for irrigation and flood moderation. The reservoir, if built to full scale, would be among the largest in the country, with a storage capacity of nearly 9 billion cubic metres. PTI COR UPL UPL RG view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 20:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
