Arunachal terminates 44 MoAs with private power developers: Chowna Mein

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh Government has terminated 44 Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) with private power developers for their non-serious and inconsistent nature, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein informed the State Assembly on Wednesday.

Making a statement in the House during a Zero Hour discussion brought by NPP member Tarn Dakpe, Mein, who also holds the hydropower portfolio, informed that the terminated projects were offered to Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) for development of the projects, considering their performance and reliability.

He said that the Government had inked 153 MoAs for hydropower projects, combining to a capacity of 46,943 mega watt, with various CPSUs and Independent Power Producers (IPPs), in accordance to the hydro power policy enacted by the Centre and the State Government.

"After allotment, progress in many projects could not be achieved as expected due to various reasons and despite of serving several notices and opportunities to the private developers, they were not inclined to execute the projects, for which, 44 MoAs have been terminated," Mein said.

He said that out of the remaining MoAs, the 405 mw Ranganadi project, the 110 mw Pare project, the 600 mw Kameng project and the 24 mw Dikshi project have been commissioned and the State is getting free power ranging from ten to 12 percent.

"The 2000 mw Lower Subansiri project is on advanced stage of completion and two units combining 500 mw are expected to be commissioned during this year and the whole project will be commissioned in 2023, providing the State Government with 240 mw free power of its share," the Deputy Chief Minister disclosed.

He added that long-pending land acquisition matter of the 2880 mw Dibang multipurpose project has also been resolved and its construction is going to be started soon.

"This has opened the gate for an investment of Rs 30000 crore which will result in revenue generation of Rs 600 crore annually and 60 crore annually as free power," he said.

Mein further informed that from the terminated projects, the Government recently handed over Nafra project (120 mw) and New Melling (90 mw) to NEEPCO and approved allotment of Amulin (420 mw), Emini (500 mw) and Mihundon (400 mw) to Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN) for unlocking these projects which were stuck for various reasons.

"The State Government is regularly pursuing the matter of hydro power development with the Centre and as a result, the Central Government in its recent decision prepared an indicative list of 29 projects having installed capacity of 32,415 mw," Mein said.

He added that the Centre has identified projects for getting due diligence and analysis conducted by CPSUs namely, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), SJVN, NEEPCO and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd (THDC) before recommending the valuation of each project to Centre for approval.

"I have also taken a meeting with CMDs of all the four designated CPSUs to impress timely action on the matter. The State Government is facilitating the whole process for timely completion of such transfer of the projects from IPPs to CPSUs. On allotment, these projects will enable an estimated investment of Rs 44 lakh crore in the State," he pointed out.

Raising the issue on handing over of Kamla hydro project to NHPC from Jindal Power, Dakpe was apprehensive whether the NHPC would be able to commission the project on time as it had not commissioned any project in the State so far.

Dakpe also urged the State Government to prepare the MoU with NHPC for the project keeping in view the interest of the project affected people besides establishment of an ITI in the area and providing jobs to the locals.

Mein, in response, assured to ask the power developer to coordinate with the local leaders while executing the project.

"Kamla project is also in the indicative list of the Centre, designated for analysis and valuation by NHPC. Due diligence process have already been initiated by NHPC in coordination with Jindal Power and expected to be completed soon while, transfer of information and documents have been completed and NHPC is expected to submit the report to the Centre shortly for approval," Mein added.

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