Five hydropower projects announced for Arunachal’s Shi-Yomi district

Arunachal Pradesh is set to witness a major boost in its renewable energy sector with the announcement of five new hydropower projects in the Shi-Yomi district. The projects, with a total installed capacity of 2626 MW, will be executed by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), replacing private agencies engaged earlier.

CM Pema Khandu made the announcement on December 6, 2023, stating that these projects will be a game-changer for the state’s economy and will also provide clean energy to the region.

“We have challenges in terms of difficult terrains and topography. We need to convert these challenges into resources and hydropower is one way of doing it,” Khandu said.

Details of the projects:

• Two projects with capacities of 700 MW and 186 MW will be set up at the district headquarters Tato.
• Three other projects will come up at Heo (240 MW), Naying (1000 MW), and Hirong (500 MW).

Besides these projects, a road construction project worth ₹ 625.61 crore in Shi-Yomi district has been sanctioned by the Centre. The construction of the 53.04-km Tato-Monigong Road will ensure year-round all-weather connectivity to the India-China border, making way for socio-economic development in the area.

Khandu expressed confidence that NEEPCO, with its vast experience and expertise, will successfully execute these five hydropower projects. Earlier these projects were given to private companies by previous state governments but they failed to execute the projects.

The state government has assured that all necessary environmental safeguards will be taken into account during the construction and operation of these projects. He also said that the state government is committed to providing all necessary support for the timely completion of these projects.

The state government has been actively pursuing hydropower development in recent years. Arunachal Pradesh has the potential to generate about 57,000 MW of hydropower as per the study carried out by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and individual power developers.

Encouraging the residents of Shi-Yomi district to collaborate with the implementing bodies, the Chief Minister emphasized that the entire state stands to gain from these initiatives, as it will receive a portion of 12% complimentary electricity. Specifically, Shi-Yomi is slated to receive a 2% allocation, according to Khandu’s announcement.

The development of these five projects is a major step towards harnessing this potential and making Arunachal Pradesh a power surplus state. The projects will not only generate clean and renewable energy but also create employment opportunities for the local people. The state government is committed to developing the hydropower potential of the state in a sustainable manner.