The pollution of the water of Siang River has taken an alarming proportion with warning bells ringing both in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
The muddy water has become unsuitable for human consumption apart from posing serious threat to aquatic life. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu after having an on the spot assessment of the situation has ordered concerned authorities to test the Siang River water and its hazardous condition.
Khandu has already apprised the Centre about the seriousness of the problem and asked the Central Government to take up the matter with China as the river originates in that country before entering Arunachal and then merging into the Brahmaputra in Assam which is the lifeline of the state.
Meanwhile, the Assam Government has also expressed concern over the matter as polluting the water of Brahmaputra would mean spelling a death knell for the basic social and economic fabric of the state.
Earlier, the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister while inaugurating a bridge over the Siang River has proclaimed that construction of dams on the Siang River will not be allowed any more. This came as a direct defiance to NITI Aayog’s proposal for building of a 10,000 MW dam on Siang River in Upper Siang district.
The chief minister, with his cabinet members, was earlier called by the NITI Aayog to discuss on the 10,000 MW dam, to which all had expressed their objection.
Khandu has categorically stated that no other dams will be built on the Siang River ‘unless the confidence of the local people has been taken’.