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Arunachal Pradesh signs MoUs for hydroelectric projects

on september 22, 2006, the Arunachal Pradesh government signed three mou s with central power undertakings for the development of upto 15,000 mw hydroelectric projects. The projects represent about a third of the potential hydropower capacity of the state and will need an investment of Rs 7,500-crore according to Union power minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde.

Arunachal has been in a bitter fight with public sector units and the centre for greater benefits. It gained a bit when the centre decided to create a Local Area Development Trust for people of the affected areas. A paisa per unit of electricity generated would be contributed by each project to this trust. This is in addition to the 12 per cent free power that the states get out of each project.

As per the memoranda, National Thermal Power Corporation will implement Etalin (4000 mw) and Attunli (500 mw), National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (nhpc) will implement Tawang- i (750 mw) and Tawang- ii (750 mw). North Eastern Electric Power Corporation will carry out Kemeng- i (1120 mw ) and Pare (110 mw). nhpc will also take up the Dibang (3000 mw) in a joint venture with the state government. The Middle and Upper Subansiri Projects (1600 mw and 2000 mw respectively) will also be developed by nhpc after certain issues relating to environment and neighbouring states are resolved.

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