What is Upper Siang Hydropower Project?

About Upper Siang Hydropower Project:

• It is a proposed 11,000-megawatt hydropower project on the Siang River in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The Brahmaputra River, which in Arunachal Pradesh is known as the Siang River.
  • The area is predominantly inhabited by the Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) have jointly been assigned the task of construction of this project.
• On 30 December 2022, NHPC submitted a pre-feasibility report of the Project, according to which the installed capacity of the project would be 11,000 MW, the reservoir would have a storage capacity of 9 billion cubic metres (BCM), and the estimated cost of the project would be around Rs. 1,13,000 crores.
• It is seen as a strategic move to counter China’s hydel projects on the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) River, particularly a 60,000 MW ‘super dam’ in Tibet’s Medog county.

Q1: Which are the major tributaries of Brahmaputra River?

The tributaries namely Subansiri, Ronganadi, Dikrong, Buroi, Borgong, Jiabharali, Dhansiri (North) Puthimari, Manas, Beki, Aie, Sonkosh are the main tributaries on the North while the Noadehing, Buridehing, Desang, Dikhow, Bhogdoi, Dhansiri (South), Kopilli, Kulsi, Krishnai, Dhdhnoi, Jinjiran are the main tributaries on the south bank of the river Brahmaputra.

Source: Why locals are protesting against the Upper Siang hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh