Cabinet approves Rs 1,600 crore hydro project near China border

1 Mar 2023 , 10:49 AM

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved an investment of Rs1,600 crore for ‘pre-investment activities’ in Arunachal Pradesh’s 2,880 MW Dibang multipurpose project.

The government has approved a Rs1,600 crore ($3.9 billion) investment for the 2,880-megawatt Dibang project in Arunachal Pradesh, according to state-run hydropower producer NHPC Ltd. It is expected that the project will complete in 9 years. The cost of India’s largest hydro project, which includes storage, is estimated to be Rs31,876.39 crore.

Hydropower is classified as renewable energy in India, and it is seen as critical in the country’s transition away from coal to manage fluctuations caused by intermittent solar and wind supplies.

Himanshu Thakkar, the coordinator for the non-profit organization South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers, and People, warns that the Dibang project, which will occupy an area of more than 5,000 hectares of forest land, is also susceptible to comparable hazards. He believes that the company’s estimation of finishing the project within nine years is too optimistic, considering possible setbacks due to community protests and geological complications.

The Lower Dibang Valley district project will generate 11,223 million units of energy per year. The dam will be the highest in India, standing at 278 metres in height.

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