Staff REPORTER
Itanagar, Jul 31: Arunachal Pradesh is on the path to becoming India’s leading hydropower hub, with Chief Minister Pema Khandu declaring the state a "rising hydro capital" poised to blend natural beauty with modern development.
“With 56,000 megawatts of hydro potential, Arunachal is rising, not only as the hydro capital of India, but as a beacon of how natural beauty and modern progress can walk hand in hand,” Khandu said while highlighting the state’s clean energy progress.
The Chief Minister emphasized that hydropower projects, long stuck on paper, are now being realized as engines of prosperity.
Among key developments, the 600 MW Kameng Hydroelectric Project has been completed, while the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Project is nearing commissioning. The 2,880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project—slated to be the country’s largest—is under development. Additionally, 13 new projects totalling 15,000 MW are expected to come up in the next three years.
Khandu noted that these projects are not just about power generation but about empowering people. He cited figures such as Rs 4,171 crore worth of free power flowing back to the state, Rs 735 crore invested directly into local communities, and an estimated Rs 1,884 crore annually in dividends to bolster the state’s economy.
Echoing similar sentiments, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said, “Arunachal Pradesh is steadily emerging as the Hydro Capital of India, where the might of our rivers is being responsibly harnessed to generate clean, renewable energy.” He added that hydropower development in the State is transforming lives by enhancing electricity access, uplifting communities, and accelerating economic growth.
“Nature’s power is being channeled with care for today’s development and tomorrow’s sustainability,” Mein stated.
The state government’s renewed focus on hydropower is in line with national clean energy goals and reflects a shift toward infrastructure-led economic transformation in the frontier state.
However, the massive scale of hydropower expansion has also sparked debate, particularly from indigenous communities and civil society groups who have raised concerns about displacement, ecological damage, and the lack of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) in mega dam projects.
However, the state leadership maintains that development and sustainability can go hand in hand, positioning Arunachal Pradesh as a model for green growth in India.