ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Oct 17: Responding to queries raised by former minister Tapang Taloh in the ongoing Assembly Session on Hydro power development in the state, Minister for Hydropower, Pema Khandu in his written reply disclosed that 171 MoU/MoA were signed and Rs 1495.737 Crore has been collected as upfront money from various power developers since 2004 to 2017.

Out of Rs 1495.737 Crores, Rs 1337.49 Crores are Non-refundable , Rs 144.48 Crores are adjustable to free power and Rs 13.76 Crores are interest from Banks.  However, to the utter surprise the department and the Minister concern has no knowledge about when and where all upfront money has been utilized.

 ‘The details of how the money was utilized and where, is not available with this department, as the total amount was deposited in the state exchequer,’ stated the reply.

The reply also states that out of 171 projects 15 projects were cancelled and 15 more were dropped in basin study. So, as of now only 141 projects are remaining.

While responding to the queries particularly on Siang Basin, the Minister further informed that at least 30 projects were signed in the Siang Basin with total power capacity of 11,560 MW and Rs 189.59 crores were collected as upfront money from Siang Basin and its tributaries.

The written reply also revealed that the authority has a proposal for construction of Mega Dam in Siang Basin with the capacity of 3750 MW (Siang Upper Stage-II) beside that NITI Ayog has also proposed for Siang Multipurpose Storage Project with capacity of 10,000MW.

‘The state cabinet has informed NITI Ayog regarding stiff opposition of public and so requested  them to visit the project site for public opinion,’ stated  the Minister against the query on the opinion of concern public by Tapang Taloh.  

According to the Central Electricity Authority Arunachal Pradesh alone has 50,328 MW of the country’s total 148,701 MW identified hydropower potential above 25 MW. However, despite pumping of huge money and signing of MoU/MoA  of at least  171 projects  only one  project is under operation, four  are under execution, DPRs of 37 project is completed  & TEC accorded, DPR of 24 project are completed and under examination and total of 75 projects are under S&I and DPR preparation /revision.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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