Guwahati: North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO), a government of India enterprise, is set to undertake five hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 2,626 MW in the challenging terrains of the Shi-Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The projects, initially slated to be executed by private companies, faced setbacks due to the difficult topography of the region. Chief Minister Pema Khandu, addressing the issue, emphasized the need to transform these challenges into opportunities, with hydropower emerging as a viable solution.

The five projects, namely Tato-II HEP (700 MW), Tato-I HEP (180 MW), Heo-HEP (240 MW), Naying HEP (1,000 MW), and Hirong (500 MW), will be pivotal in harnessing Arunachal Pradesh's mountainous topography and abundant annual rainfall for hydro-electric power generation.

Khandu highlighting the government's commitment to ensuring the success of these projects, stated, "We made it a point that only trustworthy agencies with expertise and central government backup will be engaged." The decision to entrust NEEPCO with the execution aims to bring about a more reliable and efficient implementation.

Khandu, addressing a gathering during the Podi Barbi festival of the Bokar (Adi) community at Monigong, urged the people of the Shi-Yomi district to cooperate with the executing agencies. He assured them that the entire state would benefit from the projects, with a 12 per cent share of free power allocated.

"Shi-Yomi will receive a 2 per cent share, contributing to the development of our villages. The state's remarkable revenue growth, from Rs 900 crore in 2016 to Rs 3500 crore in 2023, underscores our commitment to investing in developmental projects," stated Khandu, emphasizing the state's economic progress over the years.

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