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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Centre approves ₹8K-crore for Arunachal hydroelectric project
New Delhi The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved ₹8146.21 crore for a 700 MW hydroelectric project, Tato-II, in Arunachal Pradesh's Shi Yomi district, a move that comes weeks after China began construction of what is set to be the world's largest river dam on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra river. Centre approves ₹ 8K-crore for Arunachal hydroelectric project The project will be implemented by a joint venture between the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd, a central public-sector company, and the state government. It will take an estimated six years to build, a statement said. The Centre will additionally give ₹458.79 crore for constructing roads, bridges and transmission lines, apart from assistance of ₹436.13 crore towards equity share of the state. Arunachal Pradesh's cabinet had in May approved five mega hydropower projects in Shi Yomi, which borders China, towards the middle northern part of the state. The five projects – Heo, Hirong, Naying, Tato I, and Tato II – would have a total capacity of 2,626 megawatts of electricity. 'On behalf of the people of Arunachal Pradesh, I convey our heartfelt gratitude to Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji for approving the 700 MW Tato-II Hydroelectric Project with an investment of ₹8146.21 crore in Shi Yomi district,' Arunachal chief minister Pema Khandu said in a Facebook post soon after the Centre's decision. The state government has tasked a panel with modifying the State Hydro Power Policy, 2008, as well as the Local Area Development Fund Guidelines, 2022 to ramp up hydropower projects. About 49% of India's hydropower potential is said to be in Arunachal Pradesh. Last month, Chinese Premier Li Qiang presided over a ceremony marking the start of construction on the $167-billion dam on Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet, according to reports in China's state-run media. The Motuo hydropower station is set to overtake the Three Gorges dam as the world's largest, sparking concerns in India over its potential impact on the Brahmaputra. The project has drawn criticism for its potential impact on the environment of Tibet and on millions of people in India and Bangladesh. These concerns could spur India to fast-track another multipurpose dam in Arunachal Pradesh, known as the Siang Upper multipurpose storage project, to act as a buffer against sudden changes in the flows of the Siang and Brahmaputra rivers, people familiar with the matter had said last month. However, indigenous Adi tribal inhabitants of the region have protested the proposed Upper Siang project, fearing loss of livelihoods and displacement. The Chinese dam is located around a 'great bend' on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, which is known in India as the Brahmaputra, a lifeline for Assam. The Siang, which flows through Arunachal Pradesh, is the Brahmaputra's main tributary that connects it to the YarlungTsangpo. The Tato-II project would benefit the state by yielding 12% free power and another one per cent towards Local Area Development Fund, Union information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
India Approves New Hydropower Project Near Disputed China Border
India's cabinet has approved the construction of a 700-megawatt hydropower plant in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, a region also claimed by China. The Tato-II project is expected to be completed in six years at a cost of 81.5 billion rupees ($929 million), according to an official statement released on Tuesday.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Arunachal Pradesh cabinet holds rare cabinet meet at village near LAC
Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet held a rare meeting at Kibithu, a village 8 km south of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and cleared a string of proposals across hydropower, governance, education, and security sectors on Tuesday. The high-altitude cabinet session, chaired by chief minister Pema Khandu, was held under the Cabinet Aapke Dwar initiative, aimed at taking governance to the remotest parts of the state. The government announced the formation of M/s NEEPCO Arunachal Hydro Power Corporation Limited, a joint venture with the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) to implement five major hydropower projects in Shi-Yomi district — Tato I, Heo, Tato II, Naying, and Hirong. Of these, Tato I and Heo are already cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and will begin construction shortly. The Shi-Yomi district shares its borders with China. The cabinet meeting came just a day before India on Wednesday sharply criticised China's civil aviation ministry for coming up with new set of names for places in Arunachal Pradesh. 'We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically,' the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a strongly worded statement. 'Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,' it added. Also Read | Arunachal India's integral part, says New Delhi after China renames 27 places in state China refers to the state as 'Zangnan' and has repeatedly issued renaming lists — the latest being the fifth in recent years — targeting strategic regions along LAC, including Kibithu and nearby Walong, which witnessed fierce resistance by Indian forces during the 1962 war. Khandu on Tuesday also paid homage to the Indian Army's 6 Kumaon Regiment, which fought heroically in the Battle of Walong, one of the bloodiest encounters during the Sino-Indian conflict. 'I bow my head in reverence to the bravehearts of 6 Kumaon, who stood their ground during the Battle of Walong in 1962. Against all odds, they fought with unmatched grit, courage, and love for the motherland,' Khandu wrote in a social media post. He also presented a formal citation to 6 Kumaon during the cabinet meeting at Kibithu, lauding their continued dedication to guarding the nation's eastern frontier. 'Their presence is a silent assurance that we sleep in peace because they stand guard in silence. Jai Hind to the eternal warriors of 6 Kumaon,' Khandu added. In a bid to further accelerate hydropower expansion, the cabinet restored the 144 MW Gongri Hydropower Project to M/s Dirang Energy Pvt Ltd under a special policy framework — the first revival under the Restoration of Terminated Large Hydropower Projects Policy, 2025. A basin-wise approach for hydro development was also approved, along with 96 new technical and non-technical posts to support sectoral capacity. The reforms, part of Arunachal's ambitious 'Decade of Hydropower' vision, were accompanied by critical governance updates — including a revamped Teachers' Transfer and Posting Policy 2025, new recruitment rules for educators, and approval for 32 teaching and non-teaching positions at Arunachal Pradesh University, Pasighat. Security and administration were also bolstered. The cabinet sanctioned 200 new voluntary Home Guard posts under the 2023 Rules and approved the restructuring of the Arunachal Pradesh Civil Services, raising secretary-level positions from 3 to 8. A tripartite agreement under Mission Karmayogi was cleared to strengthen training for state personnel. District-level administration will see added support through the launch of the Mukhya Mantri Viksit Arunachal District Fellowship, under which 35 fellows and 65 assistant fellows will be deployed to assist deputy commissioners in accelerating development projects. Other key approvals included new land management rules, restructuring of the Niglok Industrial Growth Centre and in-principle nod for a five-day Sunrise Festival at Dong, India's easternmost village, to highlight Arunachal's unique geographical and cultural identity.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu holds state cabinet meeting at Kibithu for the first time
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Guwahati: Taking the ' Cabinet Aapke Dwar ' concept a step further, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday made history by holding the state cabinet meeting at Kibithu, the last outpost along the Indo-China (Tibet) border in Anjaw Cabinet approved the formation of a joint venture company ' NEEPCO Arunachal Hydro Power Corporation Limited ' between the state government and the Northeastern Electric Power Corporation for the implementation of five hydro power projects in the state. These are Tato I, Heo, Tato II, Naying and Hirong in Shi-Yomi these five projects, Tato I and Heo HEPs have already received approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and are likely to begin construction soon. The approval for the formation of this joint venture company marks a significant step forward in commissioning of 13 large HEPs which were rejuvenated by the state government by signing MoAs (Memorandum of Agreement) with Central PSUs in the significance of hydropower in the economic growth of the state, the Cabinet also approved modifications in the State Hydro Power Policy, 2008, and Local Area Development Fund Guidelines, 2022, allowing contribution of 1% of free power by power producers, including PSUs, on behalf of the state government to Local Area Development Funds established for the welfare of Project Affected Areas. These modifications will enable higher and timely contributions to the Local Area Development Fund, enhancing the welfare of Project Affected Families with no additional cost to the state Cabinet also granted approval for the restoration of the Gongri HEP (144 MW) to the SPV Dirang Energy Private Limited under the Arunachal Pradesh Restoration of Terminated Large Hydropower Policy under Special Circumstances, 2025. With this approval, Gongri HEP became the first project restored under this innovative Cabinet also approved restructuring of the Department of Hydro Power Development, including offices at the zonal, circle and division levels by allocating works to chief engineers and their subordinate officers in a basin-wise manner. This restructuring would enable seamless coordination with PSUs and Independent Power Producers and help promote timely commissioning of all HEPs in the bolster the hydro sector, 84 technical and 12 non-technical posts were also given a go-ahead by the Cabinet. This is in line with the earlier announcement of 'Decade of Hydropower' by the government. It is expected that with this decision, hydropower will be the largest contributor to the economy of the state and Cabinet also approved in principle 'The Sunrise Festival' in Anjaw district because the nation's sun first rises at Dong. The vision is to have a curated festival managed by experienced experts on a self-sustained model. The state government will provide infrastructure facilities. The dates shall coincide with the New Year and should continue for at least five days.
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Arunachal cabinet meets at China border
GUWAHATI: Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu made history on Tuesday by holding a cabinet meeting at Kibithu, the last outpost along the Indo-China border in Anjaw district. An official statement said the government took the 'Cabinet Aapke Dwar' concept a step further by holding it in a remote area. Several key decisions were taken to accelerate the state's development, it added. The cabinet approved the formation of a Joint Venture Company, 'M/s NEEPCO Arunachal Hydro Power Corporation Limited', between the state government and NEEPCO to implement five hydropower projects – Tato I, Heo, Tato II, Naying, and Hirong – in the Shi-Yomi district. Together, they will generate 2,626 MW electricity. Tato I and Heo have already received the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and are likely to begin construction soon.
