Siang river barrage: Arunachal CM hits out at Opposition days before elections

CM Khandu rejected the statements made by the Opposition that it would not allow for construction of the barrage and affirmed that people will take the final call

With the date closing in for the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu today teared into the Opposition over the construction of a barrage over the Siang river.

Citing the Opposition who are saying that they will oppose and prevent the construction of the barrage if they are elected in the ensuing elections, CM Khandu said that such matters will only be decided by the people.

In no uncertain terms Khandu said that people’s decision will be paramount and accordingly the next step will be taken by the government.

In his speech during an election rally in support of Pangin Boleng candidate Ojing Tasing, CM Khandu said, “In the Siang belt, from Day 1 I have been saying that if people do not want Siang dam then the government will not carry forward that project. I have said it clear cut. This matter is known to the apex body ABK (Adi Bane Kebang) and other youth organisations are also aware of this.

The only cause of concern was that the way China is carrying out its activities in the upper reaches of the Siang, apprehensions are that such a day never comes when they might release water (from dams constructed in Siang) there might be large scale destruction downstream in the Siang belt in Arunachal Pradesh. The trail of devastation will impact Pasighat, Assam and upto Bangladesh.

So the Government of India had only said (proposed) that a mega project be constructed to prevent such possible calamities, by defending the flow of gushing water, so that our people do not suffer. No one ever dreamt of constructing such projects. The only thing I said that this matter must be discussed, need for more clarity from the GoI, meetings must be held.

But now the Opposition is telling that if their representatives are elected than they will not allow for constructing the Siang dam. Who are they to decide, the people will decide. If people say that they will not allow it to be constructed, than that project will not be constructed. It will be made only if people say yes. The people will decide.”

Decrying the response of the Opposition regarding the Centre’s visionary plan, CM Khandu stated, “But now the Opposition is telling that if their representatives are elected than they will not allow for constructing the Siang dam. Who are they to decide, the people will decide. If people say that they will not allow it to be constructed, than that project will not be constructed. It will be made only if people say yes. The people will decide.”

Furthermore, CM Khandu affirmed and said, “BJP believes in politics of performance, on the basis of performance we do politics, we go to politics for development. Neither religion, tribe or money, BJP does not do politics on these things.”

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The Centre proposes to construct a large barrage on the Siang river in Arunachal Pradesh to keep it “alive” in the face of potential threats from a huge dam being built by China upstream on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in the neighbouring Tibet region.

The Yarlung Tsangpo river starts from Mansarovar lake and flows easterly for more than 1,600 km across Tibet before bending towards the south-east around Namcha Barwa peak to enter India at Gelling in Arunachal Pradesh,where the river is known as Siang.

The river then flows for nearly 300km through Siang, Upper Siang and East Siang before entering Assam.

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