New Delhi: Arunachal Pradesh, with tremendous hydel power potential, is often described as the power house of Northeast yet with position from outside and within, the Himalayan state itself might face serious power shortage.
According to a projection made by the Shillong-based North East Regional Power Committee (NERPC), Arunachal Pradesh is staring at a power shortfall of 156 million units (MU) in the current fiscal year The data released by NERPC indicated that there might be a shortfall of 156 MU in 2014-15, against a demand of 793 MU.
The issue also came to light in the Parliament today when Rajya Sabha MP from Meghalaya, Wansuk Syiem questioned the progress of the multi-crore invested Dibang and Subansiri Hydel mega projects.
“The cost of the Rs 16,000crore, 3000 MW Dibang Hydro Electric Project, which would have benefitted entire North-East region, has further increased and the project has been delayed,” Power Minister Piyush Goyal told the members.
Regarding the NHPC Subansiri Hydroelectric Project, the Minister said that the work remains standstill since 2011 due to agitation in Assam, although statutory clearance was available for the 2000MW project.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with Sarbanda Sonowal, Union Minister of State for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr Goyal made it clear that a meeting of stakeholders and experts will be called to discuss their concerns relating to the Subansiri Hydroelectric Project and that no constructions will be undertaken until the matter is resolved.
Presently, 91 per cent of Arunachal Pradesh’s total power requirement is met through power derived from the central sector generating stations. Although ironically, it is often claimed that Arunachal Pradesh can supply power to the other states of the country and even neighbouring Bhutan and Bangladesh from its own resources.
