Aiming to expedite around 95 hydropower projects with a total generation capacity of 37,000 MW in the strategically located State of Arunachal Pradesh, which had been languishing since quite some time at various stages of planning, an empowered group of ministers (eGoM) is all set to meet next week to put their implementation on the fast track.
Sources privy to the development told The Pioneer that the empowered ministerial panel which had been created last year on the request of Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, having special focus on hydro power projects of the North-eastern States, is likely to decide on ways on how to put all these projects on the path of implementation.
The matter has gained focus mainly driven by growing infrastructural developments including hydro projects initiated by China (which shares its borders with Arunachal Pradesh) in the recent past. Having woken up to the reality of China’s growing influence in the region and its not so diplomatic overtures regarding Arunachal Pradesh, the Government is now keen to put these 95 projects (many of which were envisioned quite a few years back and remain only on paper) on the path of implementation as soon as possible.
The casual attitude of the Government regarding the importance of these projects can be gauged from the fact that there was not even a time frame fixed for their initiation and completion and in fact the eGoM itself was formed as late as last year.
The eGoM is headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram and consists of the Power Minister and the Minister for North-East Affairs, apart from representatives from Environment Ministry and law Ministry, among others.
The potential of Arunachal Pradesh’s hydropower capacity is estimated to be around 50,000 MW of which till now only 405 MW has been put to use.
While lack of basic infrastructure like road connectivity, which is further compounded by rough terrain (which makes it difficult to carry heavy equipments to Arunachal Pradesh) has been a reason behind the poor implementation of the hydro power projects in the state, lack of forest as well as environmental clearances too has added to their delay, sources pointed out.
While the Government had in January 2013 set up a Cabinet Committee on Investments (CCI) to fast track clearances to big ticket projects and there is another projects committee led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, sources said that the eGoM was constituted exclusively for expediting power projects situated in North-Eastern states. Since it is an empowered panel, it has powers equal to the Union Cabinet.
The Power Ministry also has a Task Force on Hydro Projects Development, which meets from time to time to review such projects in various parts of the country. In one of its recent meetings held three months back, a basin-wise list of critical infrastructure required to fast track the 95 projects in Arunachal Pradesh was issued by the Task Force. This included roads and bridges and air connectivity to facilitate movement of men and materials for construction.
The Task Force has in the past reviewed issues relating to hydro power development such as allocation of sites, clearances required for development of hydro projects and land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement issues.
Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Nabam Tuki has been regular participant in the meetings of the Task Force and after its last meeting which was held in September 2013, had expressed disappointment at the slow pace of the hydel projects in his state.
Tuki had said that quite a few of these projects could have taken off earlier, but owing to delay in forest and environmental clearances, this could not happen.
Now with the eGoM in the fray, the Power Ministry is trying to make up for the lost time.