Siang project not just for generating power but mitigating flood risks posed by China: Arunachal CM

Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, estimated to cost ₹1.13 lakh crore, was being planned by the Centre not just for generating electricity but to maintain the natural flow of the river all year round and mitigate risks of flooding if China released excess water. Siang project not just for generating power but mitigating flood risks posed by China: Arunachal CM Khandu's remarks came in the wake of China approving the construction of the world's largest dam, at a cost of USD 137 billion, on the Brahmaputra river in Tibet close to the Indian border. "The SUMP, with an estimated installed capacity of 11,000 mw, is not just about generating power, but also about maintaining the natural flow of the Siang river and mitigating potential flood risks from water releases by China," Khandu told PTI in an interview. Warning of severe consequences if China's project moves ahead "without safeguards", Khandu said the neighbouring country's plans to divert water from the Brahmaputra into its arid regions could drastically reduce the flow of the Siang river during winters.