The Government of Arunachal Pradesh signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Tehri Hydropower Development Corporation India (THDCIL) for developing the 1,200 MW Kalai-II hydroelectric project in the Lohit river basin. The project will bring in investment of over Rs 13,000 crore in the state during its construction phase, and would further create development and employment opportunities in the area.
With this, the state has concluded MoAs for 13 projects with a total capacity of 12,717 MW in the calendar year. The project will be developed in partnership with the state government which will have a 26 percent equity share.
Kalai-II project, which was initially allotted to an independent power developer in 2009, had remained stalled for various reasons. With the efforts of the Central and the state government over the last two years, and the subsequent award of this project to THDCIL will help restart its execution. This is the first project to be allotted to a central PSU in the Lohit basin and is also the first project to be taken up by THDCIL in the state.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu has asked all the stakeholders to implement the project in a mission mode, while saying that the state is committed to ensuring full development of the hydropower potential for meeting the energy security of the country.
Earlier, the state government had signed MoAs with three central PSUs, NHPC, SJVN and NEEPCO for developing 12 hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 11,517 MW to be developed in Subansiri, Dibang and Siang basins.
