Arunachal Pradesh is bestowed with huge hydroelectric potential and is speculated to become the 'Power House' of the country if this hydroelectric potential is tapped.
The identified hydroelectric capacity in respect of Arunachal Pradesh as per re-assessment study as on 30-04-2006 comes to 50,328 MW (source: -CEA Central Electricity Authority) and so far only about 0.8% of this capacity has been tapped owing to the difficult geographical terrain and inaccessability of possible project sites.
In a landmark move towards making this state Power House of India, the State Government on 21st of September, entered into MoA (Memorandum of Agreement) with CPSU power giants viz., N.H.P.C Ltd., N.T.P.C. Ltd. and NEEPCO Ltd., for harnessing 10,230 MW of hydroelectricity capacity out of the CEA estimated hydroelectricity capacity of 50,238 MW. These power giants would pump in around Rs. 42,242.66/- Crs. (estimated project cost) to harness this 10,230 MW of hydro power. Listed below are projects for which MoA has been entered into: -
I. Tawang - I Hydro Electric Project
i. Installed Capacity : 750 MW
ii. Annual Energy Generation (in MU) : 3156.10
iii. Location : Tawang District
iv. Implementing Agency : National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (N.H.P.C)
v. Basis of Funding : BOO (Build, Own and Operate)
II. Tawang - II Hydro Electric Project
i. Installed Capacity : 750 MW
ii. Annual Energy Generation (in MU) : 3480.40
iii. Location : Tawang District
iv. Implementing Agency : N.H.P.C
v. Basis of Funding : BOO (Build, Own and Operate)
III. Dibang Multipurpose Project
i. Installed Capacity : 3000 MW
ii. Annual Energy Generation (in MU): 12270
iii. Location: Lower Dibang Valley District
iv. Implementing Agency: NHPC Ltd.
v. Basis of Funding: A Joint venture between Government of Arunachal Pradesh and NHPC Ltd.
IV. Kameng - I (Bharali - I) Hydroelectric Project
i.Installed Capacity : 1120 MW
ii.Annual Energy Generation (in MU): 4112.40
iii.Location: East Kameng District
iv.Implementing Agency: North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (NEEPCO)
v.Basis of Funding: BOO
V.Pare Hydroelectric Project
i.Installed Capacity : 110 MW
ii.Annual Energy Generation (in MU): 491.74
iii.Location : Papum Pare District
iv.Implementing Agency: NEEPCO
v.Basis of Funding : BOO
VI. Etalin Hydro Electric Project
i. Installed Capacity: 4000 MW
ii. Annual Energy Generation (in MU): 16071.60
iii. Location : Dibang Valley District
iv. Implementing Agency: National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC)
v. Basis of Funding: BOO
VII. Atunli Hydro Electric Project
i. Installed Capacity : 500 MW
ii. Annual Energy Generation (in MU) : 2247.32
iii. Location : Dibang Valley District
iv. Implementing Agency : NTPC
v. Basis of Funding: BOO
These Hydroelectric Projects would be constructed taking all the environmental safeguards in accordance with the conditions of Ministry of Environment and Forests besides making additional inve
stments by way of Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) etc. for control of soil erosion as declared by the Ministry of Power in a press release on 22-09-2006. The main highlight of the MoA was the creation of Local Area Development Trust (LADT) to take up development activities for the people of affected areas. Besides, 12 pc of free power the state will accrue from these projects, the projects would contribute 1 paise per unit of electricity generated to the trust (LADT).
With the signing of MoA, it is being said that the state is ushering into an era of progress and prosperity (....to be seen later).
As in any mega projects, there was mixed reaction from the populations of the state - some welcoming the move and some having reservations about these Mega Projects fearing it would dilute the socio-economic and socio-cultural identity of the region (the points to be discussed later).
The identified hydroelectric capacity in respect of Arunachal Pradesh as per re-assessment study as on 30-04-2006 comes to 50,328 MW (source: -CEA Central Electricity Authority) and so far only about 0.8% of this capacity has been tapped owing to the difficult geographical terrain and inaccessability of possible project sites.
In a landmark move towards making this state Power House of India, the State Government on 21st of September, entered into MoA (Memorandum of Agreement) with CPSU power giants viz., N.H.P.C Ltd., N.T.P.C. Ltd. and NEEPCO Ltd., for harnessing 10,230 MW of hydroelectricity capacity out of the CEA estimated hydroelectricity capacity of 50,238 MW. These power giants would pump in around Rs. 42,242.66/- Crs. (estimated project cost) to harness this 10,230 MW of hydro power. Listed below are projects for which MoA has been entered into: -
I. Tawang - I Hydro Electric Project
i. Installed Capacity : 750 MW
ii. Annual Energy Generation (in MU) : 3156.10
iii. Location : Tawang District
iv. Implementing Agency : National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (N.H.P.C)
v. Basis of Funding : BOO (Build, Own and Operate)
II. Tawang - II Hydro Electric Project
i. Installed Capacity : 750 MW
ii. Annual Energy Generation (in MU) : 3480.40
iii. Location : Tawang District
iv. Implementing Agency : N.H.P.C
v. Basis of Funding : BOO (Build, Own and Operate)
III. Dibang Multipurpose Project
i. Installed Capacity : 3000 MW
ii. Annual Energy Generation (in MU): 12270
iii. Location: Lower Dibang Valley District
iv. Implementing Agency: NHPC Ltd.
v. Basis of Funding: A Joint venture between Government of Arunachal Pradesh and NHPC Ltd.
IV. Kameng - I (Bharali - I) Hydroelectric Project
i.Installed Capacity : 1120 MW
ii.Annual Energy Generation (in MU): 4112.40
iii.Location: East Kameng District
iv.Implementing Agency: North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (NEEPCO)
v.Basis of Funding: BOO
V.Pare Hydroelectric Project
i.Installed Capacity : 110 MW
ii.Annual Energy Generation (in MU): 491.74
iii.Location : Papum Pare District
iv.Implementing Agency: NEEPCO
v.Basis of Funding : BOO
VI. Etalin Hydro Electric Project
i. Installed Capacity: 4000 MW
ii. Annual Energy Generation (in MU): 16071.60
iii. Location : Dibang Valley District
iv. Implementing Agency: National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC)
v. Basis of Funding: BOO
VII. Atunli Hydro Electric Project
i. Installed Capacity : 500 MW
ii. Annual Energy Generation (in MU) : 2247.32
iii. Location : Dibang Valley District
iv. Implementing Agency : NTPC
v. Basis of Funding: BOO
These Hydroelectric Projects would be constructed taking all the environmental safeguards in accordance with the conditions of Ministry of Environment and Forests besides making additional inve
stments by way of Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) etc. for control of soil erosion as declared by the Ministry of Power in a press release on 22-09-2006. The main highlight of the MoA was the creation of Local Area Development Trust (LADT) to take up development activities for the people of affected areas. Besides, 12 pc of free power the state will accrue from these projects, the projects would contribute 1 paise per unit of electricity generated to the trust (LADT).
With the signing of MoA, it is being said that the state is ushering into an era of progress and prosperity (....to be seen later).
As in any mega projects, there was mixed reaction from the populations of the state - some welcoming the move and some having reservations about these Mega Projects fearing it would dilute the socio-economic and socio-cultural identity of the region (the points to be discussed later).
In recent time, companies like ‘reliance power’ and ‘jaypee groups’ had offered to build the dams in Arunachal for 19% free power to the state. Not only that, they agreed to handover the dams to Arunachal after 55 years of their business. If you don’t believe me you can get the minutes of the various meetings from the Arunachal Pradesh Power Department through RTI. With only 12% free power and giving up the dams to NHPC/NTPC for as long as they stand, Arunachal is losing a lot. Only people who gain from the deal are NHPC and the Arunachal authorities who have consumed commission not to think too much.
Here I guess the question is not of free power because the term free is a misnomer itself--it is actually the right of the state-water being state subject (find my post about it here).
And handing the project back to the state government after 55 years -isn't this some kind of a joke. What's the life of a hydro power projects? I'd say Arunachal has no business acumen. Why not Arunachal give these Mega Projects on turnkey basis or build by themselves?
I agree with you that those who are gaining from the Hydro Power development in the state is IPP and CPSU alone and not the state government. And yeah, not to forget, those who gets kickback to approve the project.;)
NHPC's Official assumption for life of a Dam is 99 years. I suppose other companies in India too must have assumed the life expentency of a dam near NHPC's. So in case the dam is handed over to Arunachal after 55 years,Arunachal have atleast 44 years of dam's life to utilize. And even if after 55 years Arunachal dont have a qualified department to manage a constructed dam, we can still hire some other companies to do so. i am sure we will be in far better position to burgain our share of profit then. all we need is determined leader (and enlightened public too). Lallu Yadav needed no business acumen to profit the Indian Railways.
In Sikkim a company has agreed to handover a dam to the state after 35 years. Well, but in the mean time the state gets no (free)power.
@anony...,
Whatever I know of hydroelectric power plant, I assume the life of any hydro plant would be around 40 to 45 years when the maintenance cost of the plant is not more than the generating cost (though Sidrapong Hydel Power Station at Darjeeling has crossed the centenary mark) so I'm not quite able to buy that a Company in the field of Hydroelectricity for so many years would assume the life of any Hydro Electric Plant at 99 years.
Here what I meant was if the hydel power plant was handed over to the state, would it be in the profit making state i.e., maintenance cost less than the generating cost? I guess NO. And if the state is ready to run the Hydel station after 55 years on it's own then why not now? Did I heard 'Fund Crunch'? But then, can't the state manage fund from sooo many financial institution for setting up these plants? Here I guess you are right in saying that "all we need is determined leader" and ofcourse enlightened public too.
Under the Arunachal Pradesh Small Scale Power Policy 2007 it says "The state Govt. shall allow to the extent of 50% share of Carbon credit benifits as may be available from carbon trading under CDM". Can any one explain to me what exactly does it mean? If i take the meaning as -a project developer has to share 50% of carbon credit to state govt. then what is left to the Developer as the registration process complex and the cost for getting carbon credit is very high? This is set back to the mantra of sustainable development and local entrepreneurs as the SHP in AP is economically unviable due to lack of bulk power consumer or absent of factories and industries.
Ur,s sincerely
Mara Kocho
Guwhati
Hi.. It sure is some useful information. The one's you have mentioned here are large scale hydro projects. Could you throw light on the small scale projects (say < 100 MW)? It would be really nice if you could atleast tell me where I could find more data on the same.
Hi Harsha,
Nice that you stopped by. Right now I don't have needed data to throw light on small or micro hydro projects at Arunachal. But do hope that I'd be doing a post on the prospects of small/micro hydroprojects at Arunachal soon...Till then do watch out for this space:-)
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