ITANAGAR: On March 29, the Arunachal Pradesh cabinet approved the proposed signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) for the development of hydropower in the state during a meeting presided over by the chief minister, Pema Khandu.
Arunachal Pradesh's five hydroelectric projects (HEPs) with a combined installed capacity of 28,200 MW are anticipated to become viable after the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA).
"The MoA with the CPSU to develop hydropower in the state was authorised by the cabinet. This will open the door to 5 HEPs with a combined installed capacity of 2820 MW. This will encourage significant investment in the state and create jobs," the Arunachal Pradesh CMO issued a statement.
Furthermore, the Arunachal Pradesh cabinet approved the "recall" of the appointment orders issued on February 7, 2023, by the new APPSC (Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission) chairman and members and recommended this action to the governor.
It should be noted here that the Pan Arunachal Joint Steering Committee and its supporters fiercely protested the Arunachal Pradesh government's decision to cancel the scheduled swearing-in of the newly appointed APPSC chairman and three members on February 17.
Due to the departure of the previous chairman and members from their respective positions in October 2022 as a result of the APPSC-conducted assistant engineer (civil) mains examination paper leak scam, the positions of APPSC chairman and members had become vacant.
Recently, in Arunachal Pradesh, two organisations have requested that the state government renounce a deal for carrying out the 10,000 MW hydroelectric project on the Siang River.
Peasants' organisations Siang Indigenous Farmers' Forum (SIFF) and the Indigenous Rights Advocacy Dibang (IRAD) have vowed to organise large-scale protests if the project is not abandoned. Siang, one of three rivers that join to make the Brahmaputra downstream in Assam's Tinsukia district, flows from Tibet.
According to the two parties, the Arunachal Pradesh government signed an MoU with the National Hydropower Corporation (NHPC) for the large project without consulting the state's residents.
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