Northeast Desk, 7th December: A total installed capacity of 2626 MW across five hydropower projects is in the pipeline for Arunachal Pradesh’s Shi-Yomi district, as confirmed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO), a government of India enterprise, is set to undertake the execution of these projects at four different locations.
Acknowledging the challenges posed by difficult terrains and topography in the region, Khandu emphasized the need to transform these challenges into valuable resources, citing hydropower as a strategic solution.
Among the five projects, Tato, the district headquarters, will host two with capacities of 700 MW and 186 MW. The remaining three projects are slated for Heo (240 MW), Naying (1000 MW), and Hirong (500 MW).
Khandu revealed that NEEPCO would take over the project execution from private agencies that had previously entered into MoUs with the state government but failed to deliver.
Highlighting the importance of trustworthy agencies with expertise and central government support, Khandu reassured the public of the projects’ benefits, urging cooperation with the executing agencies.
In terms of power distribution, the entire state stands to gain from these projects, receiving a 12% share of free power. Shi-Yomi will specifically receive a 2% share, as announced by Khandu during a gathering at a celebration of the Podi Barbi festival of the Bokar (Adi) community in Monigong.
The chief minister emphasized that the primary objective is the development of villages, and increased state revenue would be channeled into further developmental projects.
Illustrating the progress, he highlighted a significant boost in the state’s revenue from Rs 900 crore in 2016 to impressive Rs 3500 crore in 2023, attributing this growth to comprehensive reforms initiated by the government.
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