Arunachal Govt signs MoA with THDCIL to develop 1,200 MW HEP in Lohit

Continuing with its commitment towards securing energy security of the country through clean and green energy, the Arunachal Pradesh government on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Tehri Hydropower Development Corporation India Ltd (TDCIL), a central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), for developing the 1200 MW Kalai-II hydroelectric project in the Lohit river basin.

Ankur Garg, Commissioner (Hydropower) and Bhupender Gupta, Director (Technical) THDCIL, signed the MoA on behalf of Arunachal Pradesh government and THDCIL respectively.

Earlier in August, the State government had signed MoAs with three central PSUs–the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO), and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Ltd for developing 12 hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 11,517 MW to be developed in Subansiri, Dibang and Siang basins.

With the allotment of Kalai-II project to THDCIL, the state has thus concluded MoAs for 13 projects with a total capacity of 12,717 MW in this calendar year.

The 2009 allocation of the Kalai-II project to an independent power developer was put on hold for a number of reasons.

The awarding of this project to THDCIL today will aid in resuming its execution. Over the previous two years, the Central and State Governments have worked together to harness this potential.

This is the first project to be allotted to a central PSU in the Lohit basin and is also the first project to be taken up by Ms THDCIL in the state.

Ankur Garg said that the project will bring in investment of over Rs. 13,000 crore in the state during its construction phase. Once commissioned, it will generate over Rs. 300 crore annually in free power revenue for the state and about Rs. 25 crore annually for the Local Area Development Fund.

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said that the project will create historic development and employment opportunities in the Lohit basin area.

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