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The Hindu
7 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Arunachal announces decade-long focus on hydropower projects
GUWAHATI The Cabinet headed by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has declared 2025-2035 as the 'Decade of Hydropower' to harness the State's potential to generate 58,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The special Cabinet meeting held on Friday termed the thrust on hydropower as a 'strategic management of revenues generated through free power from the hydroelectric projects (HEPs). 'During the Decade of Hydropower, the government aims to undertake strategic policy and governance measures not just to harness the hydropower potential through a judicious mix of mega, large, and small hydroelectric projects, but also to create a stable and supportive policy and regulatory framework for the overall development of the industrial ecosystem in the State,' a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said. According to the agreement with power developers, Arunachal Pradesh will receive 12% free power from each HEP, and an additional 1% for a local area development fund. Arunachal Pradesh expects ₹4,525 crore in annual revenue from 2035 onwards from projects in various stages of completion. These projects, riding cumulative investments of more than ₹2 lakh crore in the next 10 years, have a combined capacity of generating 19 gigawatts (GW) of electricity. The State Cabinet approved the creation of an escrow account for 'strategic management and effective utilisation of the revenue generated from the proceeds of free power' from these HEPs. 'By effective management of these benefits, the State can make strategic and financial decisions about investing in the overall development of the State. This initiative will not only streamline financial processes but also ensure that the benefits of free power are maximised for the State's long-term sustainable growth and prosperity,' the statement read. Plans for Siang project The Cabinet underscored the need to allay fears and build consensus among the people likely to be affected by the controversial Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) that anti-dam activists said is targeted to generate 11,000 MW of electricity. The Centre declared the SUMP as a national project in 2008, given its significance from the national security point of view. The project is being pursued as a counter to China's proposed 60,000 MW project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet upstream. The Cabinet sought regular and detailed interactions with the likely project-affected families (PAFs) regarding the urgent need to conduct the pre-feasibility survey for the SUMP. Villagers in three districts — Siang, East Siang and Upper Siang — have been resisting this survey. The Cabinet emphasised the need for continuous engagement with the PAFs to ensure fair, just, and equitable compensation and solatium, in case the SUMP is found to be feasible. The Cabinet directed the State's Department of Urban Development to constitute a New Yingkiong Development Authority and a New Geku Development Authority to pursue 'future-ready alternate towns'. It accordingly approved the constitution of a committee to examine land and property compensation rates and suggest the mechanisms to be adopted for designing and implementing a robust rehabilitation and resettlement plan for the PAFs. Geku and Yingkiong are towns in the Upper Siang district. The Cabinet further directed the Public Works Department to initiate a survey for a necklace road along the Siang River, above the likely submergence area.
India Gazette
14-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Arunachal declares 2025-35 as 'Decade of Hydro Power'
Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh), June 14 (ANI): Arunachal Pradesh declared the years 2025-35 as the Decade of Hydro Power, in an effort to harness its significant hydropower potential estimated as 58,000 MW. The decision was taken during the Special Cabinet meeting of the Arunachal Pradesh government held on Friday in presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the Governor and the Deputy Chief Minister. In a press statement of the CMO Arunachal Pradesh said that, during the Decade of Hydro Power, the government aims to undertake strategic policy and governance measures not just to harness the hydropower potential through a judicious mix of mega, large and small hydroelectric projects, but also to create a stable and supportive policy and regulatory framework for the overall development of the industrial ecosystem in the state, both as a source of economic growth and as a means of generating employment and self-employment opportunities for youth of Arunachal Pradesh. 'With around 19 GW of hydropower projects under development with cumulative investments of over Rs 2 lakh crore in the next 10 years, Arunachal Pradesh is estimated to receive annual revenues of Rs 4,525 crore from the sale of free power from HEPs from 2035 onwards. The Cabinet also approved the creation of an escrow account for strategic management and effective utilization of the revenue generated from the proceeds of free power from HEPs. By effective management of these benefits, the state can make strategic and financial decisions about investing in overall development of the state. This initiative will not only streamline financial processes but also ensure that the benefits of Free Power are maximized for the state's long-term sustainable growth and prosperity, ultimately contributing to the realization of its strategic energy goals and the well-being of its citizens,' said in the statement. The Cabinet was briefed on Friday about the strategic and national security significance of the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), declared as 'National Project' by the Government of India in 2008. 'The Cabinet also took note about the concerns expressed by certain sections of people regarding preparation of the Pre- Feasibility Report of the SUMP, and the measures undertaken by the State Government for allaying fears and building consensus amongst likely Project Affected Families (PAFs) regarding this 'National Project,' through regular and detailed interactions with likely PAFs and various interactive meetings held at various levels by the State Government regarding the urgent need for preparation of the PFR for the SUMP,' said in the CMO Arunachal Pradesh statement. 'The Cabinet also re-emphasized the need for continuous engagement by the State Government with PAFs, and for the need to ensure fair, just and equitable compensation and solatium for all likely PAFs, in case construction of the SUMP was found feasible after successful conduct of the PFR. The Cabinet directed the Department of Urban Development for constitution of a New Yingkiong Development Authority and a New Geku Development Authority to enable building future-ready alternate towns. The Cabinet also directed that a Committee be constituted under the chairmanship of the Secretary (Land Management) to examine land and property compensations rates, as well as to suggest the mechanisms to be adopted for designing and implementing a robust Rehabilitation and Resettlement Plan for PAFs,' it stated. The Cabinet also decided to request the Union government to sanction a special development package for the Siang and Upper Siang Districts, including the beneficiary oriented social development for the twin districts. The Cabinet further directed the Public Works Department to initiate survey for a necklace road along the Siang River above the likely submergence area on both banks of River Siang. (ANI)
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet takes note of concerns over Siang Upper Multipurpose Project Pre-Feasibility Report
Guwahati: Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet took note of the concerns expressed by certain sections of people regarding preparation of the Pre-Feasibility Report of the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), declared as 'National Project' by the Government of India in 2008. The Cabinet was briefed about the strategic and national security significance of the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project. The Cabinet also took note about the concerns expressed by certain sections of people regarding preparation of the Pre Feasibility Report of the SUMP, and the measures undertaken by the State Government for allaying fears and building consensus amongst likely Project Affected Families (PAFs) regarding this 'National Project,' through regular and detailed interactions with likely PAFs and various interactive meetings held at various levels by the State Government regarding the urgent need for preparation of the PFR for the SUMP. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks The Cabinet re-emphasized the need for continuous engagement by the State Government with PAFs, and for the need to ensure fair, just and equitable compensation and solatium for all PAFs, in case construction of the SUMP was found feasible after successful conduct of the PFR. The Cabinet directed the Department of Urban Development for the constitution of a New Yingkiong Development Authority and a New Geku Development Authority to enable building future-ready alternate towns. The Cabinet also directed that a committee be constituted under the chairmanship of the Secretary (Land Management) to examine land and property compensations rates, as well as to suggest the mechanisms to be adopted for designing and implementing a robust Rehabilitation and Resettlement Plan for PAFs. Live Events The Cabinet also decided to request the Government of India to sanction a special development package for the Siang and Upper Siang Districts, including the beneficiary oriented social development for the twin districts. The Cabinet further directed the Public Works Department to initiate a survey for a necklace road along the Siang River above the likely submergence area on both banks of River Siang. Tsangpo River is known as Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and Brahmaputra in Assam and Jamuna in Bangladesh, and it flows through the neighbouring country (Bangladesh) before joining the Bay of Bengal. Recently, the Arunachal Pradesh government expressed concern regarding China's massive $137-billion hydroelectric dam project, which is set to produce 60,000 MW of electricity over the Yarlung Tsangpo River, in the upper reaches of Siang River in China. Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein had said that the Government of India has proposed the Upper Siang Multipurpose Project, a dam on the Siang River, which has the potential to generate up to 11,000 MW of electricity. While sharing some observations made by experts on the environmental impact in the region of such a massive hydropower project over Tsangpo river, the Deputy Chief Minister said that if the China builds the dam over Yarlung Tsangpo river and diverts its water, it will dry up the Siang river and its distributaries affecting the aquatic life of the river and the large population in the plains of Assam and Bangladesh which depends on Brahmaputra river for the irrigation of their agricultural fields. On the other hand, if any conflict arises between the two nations in future, it may release a large volume of water from the dam, which would cause unpredicted flooding in the downstream areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam causing loss of lives and properties. He said that the implications of such a massive project over the Tsangpo river by the Chinese government cannot be ignored and asserted that in both the cases, the downstream people will be affected adversely. Considering all these factors, the Government of India has proposed the Upper Siang Multipurpose Project, a dam on the Siang River. The project is a crucial initiative aimed at mitigating the impacts of downstream flooding in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Bangladesh and other environmental issues. The objective of the project is safety and security of the downstream people and to address other environmental issues, he said. He said that the power generation is secondary and would be a byproduct of the project. He added that during the lean period, the project will act as a storage for the rainwater that falls in the Indian territory preventing the river water in Siang from drying up and in case of the release of large volume of water by China, the dam in the Siang river will act as a deterrent and release the water in a controlled way thereby moderating flood in the downstream. Arunachal Pradesh has declared the years 2025-35 as the Decade of Hydro Power, in an effort to harness its significant hydropower potential estimated as 58,000 MW. During the Decade of Hydro Power, the Government aims to undertake strategic policy and governance measures not just to harness the hydropower potential through a judicious mix of mega, large and small hydroelectric projects, but also to create a stable and supportive policy and regulatory framework for the overall development of the industrial ecosystem in the State, both as a source of economic growth and as a means of generating employment and self-employment opportunities for youth of Arunachal Pradesh. With around 19 GW of hydropower projects under development with cumulative investments of over Rs. 2 lakh crores in the next 10 years, Arunachal Pradesh is estimated to receive annual revenues of Rs. 4,525 Cr. from the sale of free power from HEPs from 2035 onwards. The Cabinet approved the creation of an escrow account for strategic management and effective utilization of the revenue generated from the proceeds of free power from HEPs. By effective management of these benefits, the state can make strategic and financial decisions about investing in overall development of the state. This initiative will not only streamline financial processes but also ensure that the benefits of Free Power are maximized for the state's long-term sustainable growth and prosperity, ultimately contributing to the realization of its strategic energy goals and the well-being of its citizens.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Siang dam strategic necessity for national security: Rijiju
Guwahati: Union minister and MP from Arunachal Pradesh Kiren Rijiju Tuesday said the proposed 11.2-gigawatt (GW) Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in the state's Upper Siang district bordering the LAC is a "strategic necessity" for India's national security and a huge opportunity for the state's development. This high-stakes, multi-billion-rupee initiative which is set to be India's largest hydropower project, carries major implications for the nation's energy security and is seen not just a power generation initiative but also a strategic countermeasure to China's aggressive hydropower activities, which includes construction of a massive 60 GW hydro station (Medog Dam) on the Yarlung Tsangpo less than 50 km upstream from the LAC which could impact India's water security and downstream river flows. The Yarlung Tsangpo river, which originates in Tibet, becomes Siang on entering India and forms the main stem of the Brahmaputra in Assam. W by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Düsseldorf: GEERS sucht 700 Testhörer für Hörgeräte ohne Zuzahlung GEERS Undo hile the project promises substantial benefits, it faces significant hurdles from local opposition. Recently, 30 NGOs and organizations nationwide have expressed solidarity with the Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum (SIFF), which is spearheading the protest in the state. "China has the engineering capacity to divert rivers, even build 1,000-km-long tunnels to drain water. That's the level of risk we face," Rijiju said while addressing a gathering in Itanagar to mark the completion of 11 years of the Narendra Modi govt in office. He urged people opposing the project in the state to have an open mind about it, asserting that their culture, land and livelihoods will be protected. Describing the project as a strategic countermeasure, Rijiju said under international law, once India initiates its own project, it can prevent China from unilaterally diverting the river's flow. "This project is a matter of national interest. It is crucial not just for power generation, but also for flood control across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and even Bangladesh," he said. "For years, we struggled to bring investment into hydropower projects here. We had to plead, but no one came forward. But Prime Minister Modi changed that. He said India will invest and ensure Arunachal's potential is realised," Rijiju said. The MP of Arunachal West constituency acknowledged concerns raised by the indigenous Adi community about the dam and assured that "projects must go forward, but not at the cost of people's identity." He added, "Their culture, land, and livelihoods will be protected." "Some opposition may stem from misinformation or vested interests. These are our own people, we must engage with them and ensure they understand the long-term benefits," Rijiju said. "Jobs for youth, infrastructure, and economic growth — these will all come through hydropower. Arunachal Pradesh has no other major natural resource to fuel its development," the minister added.
United News of India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Rijiju says Arunachal to become richest state in coming years
Itanagar, June 10 (UNI) Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said Arunachal Pradesh is on a fast track to development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and projected that the state will become the 'richest in the country' within the next seven to eight years if the current momentum is maintained. Addressing a gathering in Itanagar to mark the completion of 11 years of the Modi-led NDA government, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs highlighted the transformative changes brought to the frontier state in the last decade and said it was time to accelerate progress. 'We have all the natural resources. We only need to bring the necessary reforms to our society. Under PM Modi and CM Pema Khandu's leadership, we must move even faster. The work done over 11 years will be wasted if we do not continue to win people's trust,' Rijiju said. On the contentious Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), Rijiju reiterated its status as a strategic necessity and a well-thought-out initiative vital for both national security and regional development. 'This is not just a power project; it is essential for managing water resources and countering China's hydropower developments upstream of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river,' he stated. 'This project is vital not just for power but also for flood control in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and even Bangladesh,' he said, underlining the broader regional impact. The Union Minister warned of the potential threat posed by Chinese engineering capabilities. 'China can divert rivers and build 1,000-km-long tunnels. That's the level of risk we face,' he cautioned. Addressing the concerns of the indigenous Adi community and residents living in the Siang basin, Rijiju emphasized that their culture, tradition, and agricultural livelihoods will be fully protected. 'The project has to be built, but it must benefit the people in front of it. Their identity should not be harmed in any way,' he said. Rijiju acknowledged the opposition to the project, stressing that the protestors are 'not enemies, but our own people.' He urged dialogue, patience, and empathy. 'They are protesting with emotion. We must talk to each of them, explain properly. It is our responsibility to take them along,' he said. The Union Minister also cautioned against what he called 'external elements' allegedly influencing local sentiments. 'Some are coming from outside and misleading people. They must be checked. We have to address misinformation without confrontation,' he added. Referring to past challenges in securing investment, Rijiju said, 'There was a time we had to beg for investment in hydropower, but under Modi ji, things changed. Now, we are making Arunachal self-reliant and economically strong.' He concluded by calling for collective effort and unity, saying that Arunachal's journey towards becoming a state with the highest per capita income must not be derailed. 'We must work even harder to win the hearts of our people,' he said. The SUMP, with a proposed capacity of 11,000 MW, is being implemented by NHPC and has drawn both support and resistance from local communities over concerns of displacement and environmental impact. UNI TD BD
