Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu Reviews Hydropower Projects
On Tuesday, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu reviewed the status of hydropower projects in the state. The review focused on forest clearance, techno-economic clearance, land acquisition, and environmental clearance.
Key Meeting Details
The crucial steering committee meeting was attended by top government officials and heads of Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) including NHPC Ltd., SJVN Ltd., NEEPCO, and THDC India Ltd. The meeting particularly focused on 13 hydropower projects in the state allotted to these PSUs, with a combined investment estimated to exceed Rs1 lakh crore.
Union Power Ministry Representation
Joint Secretary (Hydro), Government of India, Mohammad Afzal, represented the Union Power Ministry at the meeting.
Chief Minister’s Directives
Chief Minister Khandu emphasized the significance of hydropower development for the state’s growth in areas such as the economy, employment, and industrialization. He urged all stakeholders to work together diligently to overcome obstacles hindering the smooth execution of the 13 projects.
“I direct all concerned departments and Deputy Commissioners to ensure there are no delays from the state government in expediting the necessary tasks for clearances. Hydropower is vital for our state’s revenue, employment, and economic opportunities. We must ensure that all projects move forward swiftly and efficiently,” said Khandu.
Union Cabinet’s Recent Approval
Khandu recalled the Union Cabinet’s recent approval of Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to the state governments of the North Eastern Region (NER) for their equity participation in developing hydroelectric projects through Joint Venture (JV) collaboration between state entities and central public sector undertakings. He noted that Arunachal Pradesh is the biggest stakeholder.
The Centre’s decision involves an outlay of Rs4,136 crore to be implemented from FY 2024-25 to FY 2031-32, supporting a cumulative hydroelectric capacity of about 15,000 MW. The projects would be funded through a 10% Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) for the North Eastern Region from the total outlay of the Ministry of Power.
Doubts Revealed
Arunachal Pradesh -: Arunachal Pradesh is a state in the northeastern part of India. It is known for its beautiful mountains and forests.
Chief Minister -: A Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state. They are responsible for making important decisions and running the state.
Pema Khandu -: Pema Khandu is the current Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He is a leader who helps make decisions for the state.
Hydropower -: Hydropower is a way of generating electricity using the energy of flowing water, like rivers or waterfalls.
Clearances -: Clearances are permissions needed from the government to start or continue a project. They ensure that the project follows all rules and regulations.
Land acquisition -: Land acquisition is the process of buying or taking land for a project, like building a dam or a road.
CPSUs -: CPSUs stands for Central Public Sector Undertakings. These are companies owned by the Indian government that work on big projects.
Rs1 lakh crore -: Rs1 lakh crore is a very large amount of money. In Indian currency, 1 lakh is 100,000, and 1 crore is 10 million. So, Rs1 lakh crore is 1 trillion rupees.
Union Cabinet -: The Union Cabinet is a group of top leaders in the Indian government who make important decisions for the country.
North Eastern Region -: The North Eastern Region of India includes states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. It is known for its diverse cultures and beautiful landscapes.