Arunachal, NHPC to tie up for 10,500 Mw project

The Arunachal Pradesh government has, in-principle, agreed to ink an agreement with the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation for setting up 10,500 Mw of hydropower capacity with an investment of around Rs 52,500 crore.

The decision on the memorandum of understanding was reached at a meeting held by the power ministry earlier this month. The MoU with the state government is expected to be signed by the end of this financial year.

"Among the projects that will be developed by the power major are Tawang I and II (total capacity of 1500 Mw), Dibang (3000 Mw), Subansiri upper and middle (total capacity of 2600 Mw) among others," a company executive told Business Standard.

The Dibang project will be developed through a joint venture with the state government in which NHPC will have a majority stake.

However, the Subansiri upper and lower projects are under Supreme Court restrictions and may be developed by NHPC, subject to clearance from the apex court.

In another development, NTPC Ltd and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation may also develop around 4,500 Mw and 1000 Mw of power respectively in the state.

Only 2 per cent of the total hydro power potential of 58,971 Mw have been tapped in the north-eastern states. Of the region's total hydro power potential, Arunachal Pradesh alone has a potential of around 50,000 Mw.

While the maximum potential of 50,000 Mw has been assessed in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh has emerged as the top state for hydel power development, with 2,545.57 Mw being developed.