The Hindu Business Line : Arunachal signs MoUs for 9 hydel projects

The Arunachal Pradesh Government has signed MoUs with NTPC Ltd, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and North Eastern Power Corporation (NEEPCO) for setting up nine hydroelectric projects in the State.

A total investment of around Rs 1,00,000 crore is being envisaged for construction and evacuation of power from these projects.

NTPC would execute two projects with a total capacity of 4,500 MW, while NHPC would set up five plants with a capacity of 8,100 MW and NEEPCO would set up two projects with a total installed capacity of 1,230 MW.

The Union Power Ministry, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde, at a joint press conference with the State Chief Minister, Mr Gegong Apang, said these projects entail an investment of Rs 75,000 crore while an additional Rs 25,000 crore would be required for evacuating electricity from them to other parts of the country.

NTPC would take up the 4,000-MW Etalin and 500-MW Attunli projects, while NEEPCO would develop the 1,120-MW Kameng-I and 110-MW Pare projects. NHPC would execute the 750-MW each Tawang-I and Tawang-II projects, 1,600-MW Middle Subansiri and 2,000-MW Upper Subansiri projects. It would also develop the 3,000-MW Dibang project in a joint venture, where the State Government can have up to 26 per cent equity.

While Arunachal Pradesh would be entitled to 12 per cent free power from each of these projects, additionally, an amount of one paise per unit of electricity generated would be contributed by each project to a Local Area Development Trust. The money in the Trust would be used to take up developmental activities for people of the affected area.

On the issue of the involvement of the private sector in development of projects by the Arunachal Government, which had earlier been entrusted to Central utilities, Mr Shinde said the Centre had advised the State that private promoters could only distribute the power locally. On the issue of preference being given to private developers, Mr Apang said: "Private developers are giving us up to 19 per cent free power (from the hydro projects) as against 12 per given by Central utilities such as NHPC."

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