Context:
Locals are protesting against the Upper Siang hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh.
Relevance:
GS III: Science and Technology
Upper Siang Hydropower Project
Location and Scope
- The Upper Siang Hydropower Project is a proposed 11,000-megawatt hydropower project located on the Siang River in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
- The Siang River is part of the Brahmaputra River system in Arunachal Pradesh, India.
- The area is primarily inhabited by the Adi tribe, a prominent indigenous community in Arunachal Pradesh.
Project Management
- The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) have been jointly tasked with the construction and implementation of this ambitious project.
Pre-feasibility Report
- On 30 December 2022, NHPC submitted a pre-feasibility report detailing the project’s key parameters:
- Installed Capacity: 11,000 MW
- Reservoir Capacity: 9 billion cubic meters (BCM)
- Estimated Cost: Approximately Rs. 1,13,000 crores
Strategic Importance
- The project is viewed as a strategic initiative to counterbalance China’s extensive hydropower developments on the Yarlung Zangbo River (Brahmaputra River) in Tibet.
- Of particular concern is China’s plan for a massive 60,000 MW ‘super dam’ in Tibet’s Medog county, which could have significant downstream implications.
-Source: The Hindu
