In a significant development, 98 households from Riew village in Siang district have agreed to the preparation of a pre-feasibility report (PFR) for the 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP). A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Friday in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Cabinet Minister Ojing Tasing, Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta, Siang Deputy Commissioner PN Thungon, and Riew villagers.
Officials noted that Riew is the second-largest village in the Siang region, and the consenting households make up about 62% of its population—signaling a shift in local sentiment towards the once-contested mega-dam project. Earlier this month, over 300 households in Riga, the region’s largest village and a former stronghold of opposition, also gave consent.
Deputy CM Mein, who also manages the power portfolio, called this a milestone in the state’s hydropower journey, built on trust, dialogue, and cooperation. He emphasized that inclusive growth is achievable when communities and government work hand-in-hand—a vision aligned with #ViksitBharat. The development comes amid growing concerns over China’s dam construction on the Brahmaputra.
