Eye on China, PSUs to put 12 hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh on fast track

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The government has deployed three public sector hydro power companies to fast-track 12 languishing hydel projects in Arunachal Pradesh, including the 2,000MW Upper Subansiri project, as a strategic response to China’s dam-building spree near the northeast border.

Three public sector hydel companies – NHPC, SJVN and NEEPCO, a subsidiary of thermal power giant NTPC – signed MoUs with the Arunachal government in Itanagar for taking over the projects with aggregate capacity of 11,517MW.

The government has approved the country’s largest ever hydropower project in the region bordering China as it seeks to build renewable generation to meet rising power demand. It has approved the estimated investment of $3.9 billion for the 2,880-megawatt Dibang project in Arunachal Pradesh.

TOI had on November 9, 2022, first reported that the power ministry was priming cash-rich hydel companies under its wings to take over stalled hydroelectric projects with aggregate capacity of 30,000MW. The move, in addition to responding to the threat of ‘water war’ with China, also underlines the government’s thrust on hydel power as part of its climate action strategy to achieve over 50% of power from non-fossil sources by 2030 and make India net zero by 2070. Currently, coal accounts for 70% of electricity supply and renewables 25%.

These projects were allotted to private developers by the state but have been languishing due to issues like funding, expertise, land acquisition and clearances. NHPC was allotted two projects with total capacity of 3,800MW, SJVN five projects of 5,097MW and NEEPCO was given five projects of 2,620MW.

“The per capita income of the state would become more than that of Maharashtra and Gujarat. All developed nations, including the US, Canada and Norway, have harnessed 80%-90% of their hydropower potential. In India also, the states which harnessed the potential of hydropower have become prosperous. Use of hydropower will also increase the ground water level and promote growth of flora and fauna,” power and renewable energy minister R K Singh said after the MoUs were signed. (TOI)