Begging village backs Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, signs MoU with Arunachal Govt

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 20, 2025

In a landmark development, residents of Begging village in Siang District on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Arunachal Pradesh government, pledging support for preparation of the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP)—a project declared of national importance by the Government of India in 2008.

More than 85% of Begging households extended irrevocable backing for the PFR. Villagers underscored their commitment to the national development agenda, water security for India and Arunachal Pradesh, and a sustainable future for the Siang belt and the Adi community.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Minister (RD & PR) Ojing Tasing, Advisor (Hydro Power Development) Ninong Ering, Chairperson of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Development Committee Tamiyo Taga, Commissioner (Hydro Power Development) Ankur Garg, the Deputy Commissioner of Siang, and senior state officials.

DCM Chowna Mein stressed the strategic necessity of the project, noting the potential risks posed by dams being built upstream on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Siang) by the upper riparian country. He assured that likely project-affected families (PAFs) would receive fair compensation for land and property, alongside a Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) plan prepared in consultation with them.

Mein also highlighted the enormous hydropower potential of Arunachal Pradesh, calling it a key driver of economic growth, employment, and self-employment opportunities for the state and the North East.

Minister Ojing Tasing thanked Begging residents for their support, noting that the agreement follows similar MoUs signed by Riga and Riew villages in Siang. He credited the state’s consultative approach for dispelling misconceptions about the SUMP and building trust.

Advisor Ninong Ering echoed this sentiment, calling the project strategic for India’s future and lauding the villagers for voluntarily pledging their support.