YINGKIONG, September 30, 2026: Protests against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) intensified across Upper Siang district on Wednesday as Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu visited Yingkiong amid continuing opposition to the government’s proposed Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) process.
The Chief Minister’s two-day visit to Siang and Upper Siang districts coincided with strikes, road blockades and demonstrations in several areas along the project-affected belt. Protesters opposed to the SUMP and the proposed PFR survey disrupted movement on the Yingkiong-Komkar-Geku stretch and on routes leading towards Dite Dime.
The protests have been driven largely by opposition to the proposed survey process and the deployment of additional security personnel in areas where authorities are preparing for the feasibility exercise. According to reports, PFR activities had not yet started at the proposed dam sites, while local residents continued to demand that security forces be withdrawn from affected areas.
Tensions had already risen in Geku earlier in the week following confrontations between villagers and security personnel. Four people were reportedly detained after the incident and were later released following police inquiry. The deployment of additional forces subsequently became a major point of contention, with villagers objecting to the reported use of the Model College boys’ hostel at Geku to accommodate security personnel.
The situation escalated further on Wednesday. Reports said protesters blocked roads at several locations, while a vehicle being used in connection with the deployment of forces was set on fire near Dite Dime. Several government vehicles were also reportedly damaged during the unrest.
In Yingkiong, the protest spread to the area around the residence of Tuting-Yingkiong MLA Alo Libang. A senior district official cited in PTI reports said protesters entered the residence, where several ministers and MLAs were staying, and vandalised the premises. Security personnel also intervened when a protest march moved from the general ground towards the lower market, leading to scuffles.
The protests also affected the movement of senior government leaders. Protesters gathered outside the Grand Siang Hotel and reportedly prevented Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Cabinet ministers Ojing Tasing and Nyato Dukam, and Chief Minister’s advisor Ninong Ering from attending Khandu’s programme.
Carrying placards with slogans including “No PFR, No Survey” and “Go Back CM”, demonstrators questioned why the government had chosen an official interaction instead of holding a direct dialogue with communities located in areas that could be affected by the project.
Despite the protests, Khandu held a meeting with officers and government officials of Upper Siang at the 761 BRTF Camp in Yingkiong. During the visit, he reiterated that the government was willing to engage with people opposed to the SUMP.
Khandu also sought to distinguish the PFR process from the final construction of the proposed project. He said the government was seeking permission to carry out the initial feasibility assessment rather than announcing that the dam would definitely be built. According to his remarks reported during the visit, the PFR would help determine whether the project was technically feasible and whether it should proceed at all.
The Chief Minister further said that he planned to return to the Siang region for a longer visit and spend several days meeting residents and visiting villages. He also indicated that a small delegation of representatives from the protesting communities could be invited for discussions through the district administration.
The government has maintained that the PFR is a preliminary technical assessment and does not amount to final approval for construction. Protesters, however, have continued to oppose the PFR process itself, arguing that their concerns should be addressed before any survey-related activities are allowed to proceed.
The latest developments have highlighted the growing gap between the government’s stated approach of dialogue and the position of sections of local communities demanding that the proposed survey be stopped altogether.
For now, no PFR activity has begun at the proposed dam sites, while the standoff between authorities and protesters remains unresolved. The government’s proposed dialogue and Khandu’s indication of a longer village-level visit are expected to determine the next phase of engagement over the controversial SUMP project.
