New Delhi, July 12: The Forum for Awareness of National Security (FANS), Arunachal Chapter, has urged the central and state governments to urgently consider constructing a counter-dam within Arunachal Pradesh in response to China’s upstream hydropower project over the Siang River.
Raising the issue during the 10th Annual General Meeting of FANS in New Delhi, Dr Robbin Hissang, vice president of the Arunachal Chapter, highlighted China’s Medog Hydropower Dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Siang) as a strategic threat.
He emphasized the importance of India’s proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project as a countermeasure and called for immediate engagement with around 20,000 indigenous people across 20 villages in the Siang basin who may be affected.
The Arunachal delegation at the AGM includes Dr M Q Khan (patron), V N Pandey (state coordinator), Dr Ratna Tayeng (secretary) and Wangman Lowangcha (member).
The Arunachal Chapter operates under the leadership of state Home Minister Mama Natung as president while Padma Shri awardee Y D Thongchi is the chief patron and retired IAS officer Rajeev Takuk serves as advisor.
Dr Tayeng presented a status report on the chapter’s activities, detailing its objectives, ongoing outreach and the importance of national security awareness in the sensitive border state.
National Working President Jasbir Singh, in his address, proposed the creation of an academic chair in memory of former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu at Arunachal University, Pasighat, assuring FANS’ full support for the initiative.
The participation of the Arunachal team reinforced the chapter’s commitment to promoting strategic awareness and national integration in India’s northeastern frontier through research, dialogue, and stakeholder engagement, the organisation later said in a statement.
