Itanagar: The proposal for shifting of NHPC executive director’s office from Itanagar to Guwahati has been suspended after intervention of Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal, the Arunachal Pradesh assembly was informed on Thursday.
Chief Minister Nabam Tuki while participating in a short duration discussion brought by PPA member Nikh Kamin, said that after reviewing the situation arising out of the reported shifting of the office, he personally apprised Goyal on the issue over phone on Wednesday and sought his immediate intervention.
“The union minister while assuring that the ED office of the power giant will be retained, also admitted that the move will hurt the sentiments of the people and send a wrong message at a time when the people of the state are showing a pro-NHPC attitude,” Tuki disclosed.
The Chief Minister further informed that NHPC authorities have decided to close down executive director offices in Dehradun, Chandigarh and Kolkata along with Itanagar. Giving an account of the genesis of NHPC’s entry to the state during 1999 in absence of the Brahmputra Board, the Chief Minister informed that the power giant was allowed to undertake survey and investigation besides preparation of detailed project reports for Siang, Dibang and Subansiri projects in the state.
There are six projects in the state by NHPC under various stages of execution namely, 3000 mw Dibang Multi-purpose project, Tawang I (600 mw), Tawang II ( 800 mw), Siang Stage I (3750 mw), Siang Stage II (6000 mw) and the 2000 mw Lower Subansiri project.
Referring to the Lower Subansiri project at Gerukamukh work on which came to a halt in December, 2011 after protest from anti-dam protagonists in neighbouring Assam, Tuki disclosed that the state had incurred a loss of Rs 316 crore annually from its 12 per cent free power from the project.
Earlier, Kamin while initiating the discussion termed the move as anti-people and said that it would jeopardise the lives of over 100 regular and casual employees working with the NHPC.
He pleaded with the chief minister to take up the matter personally with the authorities. (PTI)
