Centre is all set to start stalled works of 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydro project

A top official of the Union Power Ministry said that, the Centre is targeting to complete the works of the project by mid of 2018.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Sunday said the the Arunachal Pradesh government will sort out all the problems on implementation of the stalled hydro electric project soon.

Khandu said that, he would hold talks with the Centre and his Assam counterpart Sarbananda Sonowal into the matter for an early sorting out the issue.

Khandu and his cabinet colleagues had inspected the construction site of the hydro electric project and assured to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) officials to sort out the problems for halted construction works soon.

Khandu said that, the state government losing around Rs 1.20 crore per day, which could have been accured from the 12% free power share.

Meanwhile, the top official of the Union Power Ministry said that, the stalled works of the hydro electric project will be started soon.

The construction work of the hydro electric project has been stalled since December 2011 following amid protests by anti-dam groups from Assam including Krishak Mukti Sangram Samittee (KMSS), All Assam Students Union (AASU), Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP).

The anti-dam groups alleged that, the people residing in the downstream will be affected, if is any breach in the project.

The initial cost of the project was estimated at Rs 6285 crore when construction begun in 2005, and now the revised cost estimate has escalated to Rs 17,435 crore, due to delay.

On the other hand, the NHPC official said that, around 55% construction works have been completed till date.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)