Clashes between anti-dam protesters and CRPF personnel at Riga and Ugeng have pushed the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project controversy to a dangerous new edge — and the state government is now scrambling to cool things down before they spiral further out of control. The hills around the Siang valley have never been particularly quiet when … Read more
When a minister says national security is non-negotiable, you know the conversation has moved far beyond megawatts and dams. The battle lines over the proposed 11,000-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project are getting sharper. On Sunday, October 4, Arunachal Pradesh minister Ojing Tasing came out swinging in support of the contentious project, making it absolutely clear … Read more
If you’ve ever stayed at a homestay in Arunachal Pradesh and wondered whether the people running it had any formal training — well, the government is finally doing something about that. On Saturday, the tourism department of East Siang, in collaboration with the district administration, held a one-day training programme titled “Homestay Development, Management and … Read more
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 … Read more
There is a project that is dividing Arunachal Pradesh right down the middle — and the government just made it clear it is not backing down. Arunachal Pradesh Minister Ojing Tasing came out swinging on Thursday in defence of the controversial Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, better known as SUMP, while simultaneously sending a stern warning … Read more
The Siang River can be both a lifeline and a time bomb — and Arunachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister wants people to understand the difference before it’s too late. Pema Khandu sat down with Community-Based Organisation (CBO) members, government officers and local officials at Yingkiong on September 30, and the conversation wasn’t about politics or projects. … Read more
The roads are blocked. The anger is real. And Geku’s message to the government couldn’t be any clearer. As Chief Minister Pema Khandu prepares to visit Boleng in Siang district on September 29 and Yingkiong in Upper Siang district on September 30, the mood in the Siang Valley is anything but welcoming. Villagers in Geku … Read more
Pema Khandu says the government will not push the SUMP against the people’s will. Yet roads are blocked, four villagers were detained, and security is pouring in. Something doesn’t add up. The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh says he won’t use force. But try telling that to the villagers of Geku, who spent Monday blocking … Read more
The Siang Upper Multipurpose Project has long been a powder keg in Arunachal Pradesh. On Monday, Chief Minister Pema Khandu lit a match. Amid mounting resistance from indigenous communities against pre-feasibility report (PFR) activities for the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), Khandu convened a high-stakes consultative meeting in Itanagar — pulling in hundreds of … Read more
When a Chief Minister has to publicly say “nothing is being forced,” you already know the situation is tense. That’s exactly where Arunachal Pradesh stands right now over the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project — a massive hydropower initiative that has split communities in the Upper Siang region right down the middle. Chief Minister Pema … Read more
