Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP)

Why in News?

The proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in Arunachal Pradesh is facing opposition from sections of the indigenous Adi community, youth leaders and residents of the Siang river basin. Local communities have raised concerns about its potential economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts. Meanwhile, the state government considers the project important for India’s energy security and strategic interests in view of China’s proposed upstream hydropower project.

About the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project

• Location: Siang region, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Proposed capacity: 11,200 MW.
• River: Siang River, known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet.
• Significance: It is projected to be India’s largest hydropower project.
• The project aims to harness the hydropower potential of the Siang River and is also viewed as a strategic response to China’s upstream dam development.
• The project is currently undergoing the pre-feasibility survey (PFR) process, according to the supplied passage.

Background and Evolution

Year	Development
1982	Brahmaputra Board proposed three smaller projects to harness the Siang and Subansiri rivers.
2013	The Central Government raised concerns about Chinese hydropower projects on the Yarlung Tsangpo and expressed interest in India’s role as a downstream user.
2017	The proposed Siang Upper Stage-I and Stage-II projects were merged under a single umbrella.
December 2024	China approved its proposed 60,000 MW Lower Yarlung Tsangpo hydropower project, increasing the strategic importance of SUMP.

Why is the Project Strategically Important for India?

• Countering China’s upstream dam: China’s proposed hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo has raised concerns in India about downstream water security.
• Water security: A major storage project could potentially provide India with greater capacity to manage variations in river flows.
• Energy security: The proposed 11,200 MW capacity could contribute significantly to India’s electricity generation.
• Strategic significance: The project is viewed as an important infrastructure development in a sensitive border region.

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