Overview

• Pema Khandu warned the dam could be used to abruptly withhold or release flows, posing an existential threat to downstream tribes and ecosystems because China is not party to any binding water-sharing treaty.
• Beijing approved the $137 billion, five-year hydropower project in December 2024 with a planned capacity of 60,000 MW, but it has shared no construction details with India.
• In coordination with New Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh is fast-tracking its own Siang Upper Multipurpose Project to regulate river flows and bolster local water security.
• State authorities have launched intensified consultations with the Adi and other tribal groups to map potential environmental impacts and livelihood risks.
• India is using satellite imagery and remote monitoring to track Chinese activity and is preparing flood-control measures to counter any sudden water releases.