The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation has sought the assistance of the project monitoring group under the cabinet secretariat to fast-track the Rs 7,500-crore Tawang-II project in Arunachal Pradesh.
In February, India hastened plans to construct 2,500 MW of hydro projects, including one in Tawang and another in Teestha in Sikkim after China announced three more dams on their part of the Brahmaputra river. Though the NHPC's 800 MW Tawang II project has been cleared for stage I green clearance from the forest advisory committee (FAC) in February.
In the absence of a formal letter from the environment ministry endorsing the clearance, the project remains stuck. It is learnt that the file (for stage I clearance) is with the office of the environment minister for approval since April 18.
In it application filed to the PMG, NHPC sought faster clearances from various ministries for the 800 megawatt project as work could be started."The project would require 83 months for completion after investment approval by the government," it said.
The Tawang project got environment nod earlier and is awaiting a formal approval for diversion of 116.62 hectare of forest land.
Once this is in place, the company would also have to spell out rehabilitation and resettlement plan for the locals who would be displaced when the dam comes up at Tawang Chu river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
"We are facing several delays on our projects in the Northeast. Faster clearances would go a long way in not only helping NHPC grow but also provide the country a reliable source of cheap power," NHPC director finance ABL Srivastava told.
Chief ministers of Northeastern states have been urging the Centre to expedite various projects as part of efforts to speed up development in the region. The power ministry has already taken up with environment ministry a number of projects stalled in the Northeast.
Of the 100-odd projects planned in Arunachal Pradesh, 13 are planned in Tawang alone, which is also the birthplace of sixth Dalai Lama. However, projects coming up in Tawang are mired with controversies as China claims the region as a southern extension of Tibet.
Also, the Monpa tribe in Tawang have opposed the hydroelectric project as it might affect some of the Buddhist sacred sites.
Indian authorities are aware of the fact that building more dams in Brahmaputra ahead of China will put New Delhi in a strategically important position.
Tawang-II project has been proposed on river Tawangchu, in the downstream of Tawang-I hydroelectric project.
The project envisages construction of four units of 200 MW each and expects to generate 3622 million units at 90% PLF. The total cost for the project has been estimated at Rs 6112.30 crore at the May 2010 price-level.
Apart from Tawang II, forest clearance is pending for 600 MW Tawang-I hydroelectric project of the company in Arunachal Pradesh.
This is delayed pending a cumulative biodiversity study of the Tawang basin by the Arunachal government and Northeastern Hill University.
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