SHILLONG, May 13—The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has embarked upon an ambitious plan for harnessing over 25,000 MW of hydroelectric power by setting up a number of projects in the North Eastern region by the end of the 12th Plane. NHPC chairman-cum-Managing Director Yogendra Prasad announced at a Press conference at Itanagar recently,” This will effectively make the region the powerhouse of the country and also speed up development by providing abundant and cheap power,” he said.
The region has a major share of hydro power potential to the extent of 63,257 MW out of the country’s total potential of 2,49,403 MW. “But only 15 per cent of the North-Eastern regions’s potential has been developed so far while another seven p er cent is under various stages of development.” The NHPC is going into development of the region’s hydel potential in a big way only now though it was associated with the region since the inception of the Corporation in 1975 by constructing the 105 MW Loktak hydel project in Manipur.
It is now embarking on a grand plan to develop the region’s hydel potential. Survey and investigation of mega hydel projects in Siang, Subansiri and Dibang basins in Arunachal Pradesh envisaging over 25,000 MW installed capacity are in progress since the last three years. Subansiri Lower (2,000 MW) is located near Gerukamukh on Assam-Arunachal border, about 60 kms from Lakhimpur town. The detailed project report (DPR) of the project has been submitted to Government of India and is techno-economically cleared. The project is likely to be taken up after CEA clearance is accorded. The project costing Rs 10,000 crore is scheduled to be completed during the 11th Plan.
Subansiri Middle (1600 MW) is also scheduled to be completed during the 11th Plan. The DPR of the project shall be ready by October this year. The DPR of the Subansiri Upper (2000 MW) is also expected to be submitted to the government by October next. The NHPC has also taken up three projects on the Siang river basin which contributes nearly 30 per cent discharge of Brahmaputra basin and it is envisaged to provide a total installed capacity of 13,700 MW. Siang Middle (1,000 MW) is expected to be commissioned by end of 11th Plan. The DPR of the project will be submitted by July this year. The investigation works of the Siang Lower (11,000 MW) and Siang Lower (1700 MW) is under progress. The DPR of Dibang multipurpose project is scheduled to be finalised by June this year.