Chief Minister Pema Khandu in his Independence Day address to the state on Friday said that Arunachal Pradesh is on a decade-long mission to fast-track all green energy projects, revive stalled ones, and embrace public-private partnerships.
He stated that hydropower and mineral resources like graphite, limestone, and dolomite will power solar panels, batteries, and electric mobility for decades to come.
The Arunachal government has already declared 2025-35 as the Decade of Hydropower and is formulating the Arunachal Pradesh Energy Vision and Action Plan-2047, with clear targets for the next 5, 10, and 22 years.
Khandu said that in the next three years alone, the state will work on new hydropower projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore, adding another 19 gw to the existing capacity.
These projects are expected to bring in over Rs 4,000 crore annually as free power to the state and Rs 750 crore to support local area development.
Each year, nearly Rs 2,000 crore in dividends will flow directly to the state. In addition to better roads, schools, and other infrastructure, the projects will generate 30,000 direct jobs in construction and operations.
However, any kind of excavation or exploration must be carried out with care. It is better to sit on a mine of minerals than exploit it recklessly, making the environment even more vulnerable.
While green power may be the answer, there are genuine concerns over large-scale hydropower projects – particularly the displacement of indigenous communities and their legitimate fears about ecological impact.
The state should proceed with caution and with an open mind, resisting the temptation to prioritize profit at the cost of its people and the environment.