New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved two hydroelectric projects for the Shi Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh.
While the 240 MW Heo Hydroelectric Project has an outlay of Rs.1939 crore, the 186 MW Tato-I Hydroelectric Project has an outlay of Rs.1750 crore. The completion period for both projects is 50 months.
The Heo Hydroelectric Project would produce 1000 Million Units (MU) of energy, and the Tato-I Hydroelectric Project would produce 802 Million Units (MU) of energy. Both projects would be joint ventures between the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (NEEPCO) and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.
In the case of the Heo Hydroelectric Project, the Government of India will extend Rs.127.28 crore as budgetary support for the construction of roads, bridges, and associated transmission lines under enabling infrastructure, besides Central financial assistance of Rs.130.43 crore towards equity share of the State. During the construction phase, the project will require approximately 200 personnel from NEEPCO and around 400 workers from the contractor. In addition, the project will create significant indirect employment opportunities for the local community through various small contracts and services during its execution. The project would also need employment for its operation and maintenance. Furthermore, its development would create employment in sectors, such as transportation, tourism, and small-scale businesses.
In the case of the Tato-I Hydroelectric Project, the government of India will extend Rs.77.37 crore as budgetary support for the construction of roads, bridges and associated transmission lines under enabling infrastructure besides Central financial assistance of Rs.120.43 crore towards the equity share of the state. There will be significant improvement in infrastructure, including the development of around 10 kilometres of roads and bridges, for the project which shall be mostly available for local use. The district will also benefit from the construction of essential infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, vocational training institutes like ITIs, marketplaces, playgrounds, etc. to be financed from dedicated project funds of Rs.15 crore.
In each project, the state would benefit from 12% free power and another 1% towards the Local Area Development Fund (LADF) besides significant infrastructure improvement and socio-economic development of the region.
– global bihari bureau
