Dear Editor,
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on 7th March, 2019 has failed to provide approval to the most prestigious and anticipated hydro project, the 2880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project in Arunachal Pradesh. This Project is also the largest hydro project venture in India by NHPC Limited after the 2000 MW Subansiri Project also in Arunachal Pradesh.
Dibang Multipurpose Project is a hydropower cum flood moderation scheme proposed on Dibang River in Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh. The Dam site is located about 1.5 km upstream of the confluence of Ashu Pani and Dibang rivers and about 43 km from Roing, District Headquarter. The project would moderate flood in the areas downstream of the Dibang Dam during the entire monsoon period to the extent of 3000 cumecs.
However, even after a period of six years when the foundation stone was laid by the then Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Mahmohan Singh, the Project has failed to receive the final clearance from the Central Government. If the project had acquired the requisite approval from CCEA it would have helped in meeting peaking demand of energy; balancing & ramping requirement of the grid and would have accelerate the process of development of Arunachal Pradesh State.
The fate of the project will be reviewed in the next CCEA meeting and there is speculation that it may even be closed.
Sincerely,
Okey Meto