Itanagar, Mar 20: Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein, during his two-day visit to Siang and Upper Siang district, addressed the people about the importance of the Upper Siang Multipurpose Project. 
Mein highlighted the growing concern regarding China’s massive $137 billion hydroelectric dam project, which is set to produce 60,000 MW of electricity over the Yarlung Tsangpo River, in the upper reaches of Siang river in China. 
While sharing some observations made by experts and research scholars on the environmental impact in the region of such a massive hydropower project over Tsangpo river, the Deputy Chief Minister said if China builds the massive dam over Yarlung Tsangpo river and divert its water, it will dry up the Siang river and its tributaries affecting aquatic life of the river and a large population in the plains of Assam and Bangladesh which depends on Brahmaputra river for irrigation of agricultural fields. He also opined that in the event of a conflict between the two nations, China may release large volume of water from the dam, which would cause unprecedented flooding in downstream areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam causing loss of live and property.
Mein said the implications of such a massive project over Tsangpo river by the Chinese Government cannot be ignored and asserted that in both the cases, the downstream people will be affected adversely. He informed that considering all these factors, the Government of India has proposed the Upper Siang Multipurpose Project, a dam on the Siang River, which has the potential to generate up to 11,000 MW of electricity. 
“The project is a crucial initiative aimed at mitigating the impacts of downstream flooding in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Bangladesh and other environmental issues. The main objective of the project is for the safety and security of the downstream people and to address other environmental issues,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
He further said that power generation is secondary and it would be a byproduct of the project. Mein added that during the lean period, the project will act as a storage for rain water that falls in the Indian territory preventing the river water in the Siang from drying up and in case of the release of large volume of water by China, the dam in the Siang river will act as a deterrent and release the water in a controlled way thereby moderating flood in the downstream.  
Mein further called upon the elite and educated section of society to create massive awareness among the villagers about the benefits and positive impact of the Upper Siang Multipurpose Project. He also appealed to those who are against the construction of Upper Siang Multipurpose Project, to rethink and come to the table for discussion and solution. He said that the government will not impose anything against the will and consent of the people. However, he assured that the government will properly rehabilitate the displaced people, come up with model villages with all basic facilities and construct double lane road on both sides of the Siang river. He also added that the state is ready to provide adequate compensation for those affected besides establishing hospital and educational institutions. 
Mein also informed that the government has already formed a dedicated committee to look into all queries, and discussions will continue to ensure that the people’s concerns are taken into consideration. He called upon the people to focus on the long-term socio-economic benefits that the dam will foster in the region and the State as a whole. 
The Deputy Chief Minister was addressing a public meeting at Adi-Pasi Village during the inaugural programme of Mirem Batum Lingkang War Memorial and at a meeting with the villagers at Simong Village in Upper Siang District.   

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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