Context
- The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet approved an Empowered High-Level Committee to coordinate the PFR survey and related activities for the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in Siang and Upper Siang districts, amid local opposition and environmental concerns.
About Siang Upper Multipurpose Project
- Location: Siang River basin, the area is primarily inhabited by the Adi Tribe, an indigenous community with a strong connection to the Siang River.
- Districts involved: Siang and Upper Siang.
- Proposed capacity: Around 11,000 MW of hydropower.
- Nature: A proposed multipurpose hydropower and storage project.
- National Project: The project was declared a National Project by the Centre in 2008.
- Current stage: Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) survey, not construction.
- Purpose: Besides power generation, the project is associated with water security, flood moderation in the Siang–Brahmaputra basin, employment and regional development.
Strategic Significance
- Hydropower generation in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Water security in the Siang–Brahmaputra basin.
- Flood moderation downstream.
- Employment and socio-economic development in the region.
- The broader strategic importance of Arunachal Pradesh as a border State.
| Important CTC from this article for UPSC: • Siang River |
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP):
1. The project is proposed in the Siang and Upper Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
2. It is proposed on the Siang River, which is an important tributary of the Brahmaputra river system.
3. The project was declared a National Project in 2008.
4. The project is currently under construction with an installed capacity of about 11,000 MW.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
• Statement 1 is correct: SUMP is proposed in Siang and Upper Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Statement 2 is correct: The project is associated with the Siang River, an important component of the Brahmaputra river system.
• Statement 3 is correct: The project was declared a National Project in 2008.
• Statement 4 is incorrect: The project is not under construction; the current process involves the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) survey. The proposed capacity is around 11,000 MW.