ITANAGAR, June 10: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said Arunachal Pradesh is on a fast track to development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and projected that the state will become the “richest in the country” within the next seven to eight years if the current momentum is maintained.
Addressing a gathering in Itanagar to mark the completion of 11 years of the Modi-led NDA government, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs highlighted the transformative changes brought to the frontier state in the last decade and said it was time to accelerate progress.
“We have all the natural resources. We only need to bring the necessary reforms to our society. Under PM Modi and CM Pema Khandu’s leadership, we must move even faster. The work done over 11 years will be wasted if we do not continue to win people’s trust,” Rijiju said.
On the contentious Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), Rijiju reiterated its status as a strategic necessity and a well-thought-out initiative vital for both national security and regional development.
“This is not just a power project; it is essential for managing water resources and countering China’s hydropower developments upstream of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river,” he stated.
“This project is vital not just for power but also for flood control in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and even Bangladesh,” he said, underlining the broader regional impact.
The Union Minister warned of the potential threat posed by Chinese engineering capabilities. “China can divert rivers and build 1,000-km-long tunnels. That’s the level of risk we face,” he cautioned.
Addressing the concerns of the indigenous Adi community and residents living in the Siang basin, Rijiju emphasized that their culture, tradition, and agricultural livelihoods will be fully protected.
“The project has to be built, but it must benefit the people in front of it. Their identity should not be harmed in any way,” he said.
Rijiju acknowledged the opposition to the project, stressing that the protestors are “not enemies, but our own people.” He urged dialogue, patience, and empathy. “They are protesting with emotion. We must talk to each of them, explain properly. It is our responsibility to take them along,” he said.
The Union Minister also cautioned against what he called “external elements” allegedly influencing local sentiments. “Some are coming from outside and misleading people. They must be checked. We have to address misinformation without confrontation,” he added.
Referring to past challenges in securing investment, Rijiju said, “There was a time we had to beg for investment in hydropower, but under Modi ji, things changed. Now, we are making Arunachal self-reliant and economically strong.”
He concluded by calling for collective effort and unity, saying that Arunachal’s journey towards becoming a state with the highest per capita income must not be derailed. “We must work even harder to win the hearts of our people,” he said.
The SUMP, with a proposed capacity of 11,000 MW, is being implemented by NHPC and has drawn both support and resistance from local communities over concerns of displacement and environmental impact.
(UNI)
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