ITANAGAR, Dec 23: Amid ongoing debates between the state government and anti-dam activists, villagers over the Siang Multipurpose Project, recent satellite images from Google Maps reveal significant construction activities near the Chinese-occupied Tibet region, close to Indian territory (Arunachal Pradesh). These developments are occurring on the left bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, known as the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh and the Brahmaputra in Assam.
In a recent visit to Boleng in Siang district, Chief Minister Pema Khandu reiterated that the Siang project is a central initiative and will be executed to counter potential threats from China. Khandu revealed that China has approved the construction of a massive project capable of generating 60,000 MW of power on the Yarlung Tsangpo, just upstream from its entry point into India at Tuting in Upper Siang district.
Satellite images depict extensive activities near the left bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo, including heavy machinery, excavators, cylindrical structures, and blue-painted camp-like formations. As per the Google Map, the construction site lies approximately 5 km from the nearest ITBP post in Gelling, Upper Siang,5.75 km from Gelling village the last Circle HQ inTuting under Upper Siang District ,1.62 km from the McMahon Line, 35 km from Medog town in the Nyingchi region of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
However, the images also show significant earth-cutting work, road formations, and landslides, although the exact purpose of these activities remains unclear. The presence of massive vehicles and camps has fueled speculation about China’s alleged mega-dam construction project, as claimed by CM Khandu in his recent speech, or could be a road development project near McMahon Line.
CM Khandu also added that, the Chinese government, which is not signatory to the International Water Conventions, intends to divert the water from the multiple water reservoirs to be created under the project to dry regions of Tibet and elsewhere in the country.
“In such a scenario it is inevitable that volume of water in Siang river will drastically get reduced so much so that during winters you will be able to cross the mighty Siang on foot. If China released water from their dams all of a sudden, a trail of unimaginable destruction will sweep through the Siang belt, Assam and Bangladesh’ said CM in his recent speech at Boleng.
Reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh has about 50% of the country’s hydropower potential, Khandu informed that the 12500 MW that would be generated from the projects for which MoUs have been signed with PSUs will generate about Rs 10000 crores annually for the state exchequer.
“Please be informed that the 12500 MW I am mentioning does not include the Siang project. We do not know yet the amount of power that this project will generate if at all executed,” CM Khandu added.
