Arunachal seeks more than 12% free power from centre

New Delhi, Sep 22 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang today said that he has requested the centre to give more than the stipulated 12 per cent free power from the public sector utilities that are harnessing the 50,000 MWs of hydro power potential in the state.

Pointing out that the private sector gives 19 per cent free power to the state under the MoU, the Chief Minister hope that the central government will increase it from 12 per cent offered presently.

Mr Apang informed if the private sector players do not complete the project on time then they pay royalties to the state.

Mr Apang said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) have been signed between three public sector undertakings- NHPC, NTPC and NEEPCO to build seven hydro projects in the state.

The Chief Minister said that the total installed capacity of the seven projects would be 10230 MW. He said the state government has signed two MoUS with NHPC for Tawang-1 (750 MW) and Tawang-11 (750 MW). Besides an MoU has also been signed with the NHPC for 3,000 MW Dibang Valley multi-puprose project in joint venture with the state government.

The MoUS with NEEPCO is for Kameng-1 (Bhareli-1)(1120 MW) and Pare (110 MW). NTPC will build two projects--Etalin (400 MW) and Attnli (500 MW).

''As per the agreement, the state government will get 12 per cent free power from the PSUs. The annual revenue that the state will get from these seven power projects will be Rs 1254.89 crores.

The total power generation from these PSU projects and private projects will be over 15,000 MWs'', Mr Apang informed of press conference.

He said the state government has already signed MoUS with three private power developers -- Jaiprakash group, D S Construction and Reliance Energy.

These three companies will build five power projects in the state and their combined power generation will be 4,800 MW.

Mr Apang said once the 50,000 MWs of power is tapped, the state would be free from central aid. Part of the power will be channelised to the power strapped national capital Delhi, Mr Apang said.

However,Power Secretary R V Shahi said that as per the MoU 12 per cent free power is a national policy and is not subjected to change currently.

Mr Shahi said that one paise per unit will go to the local area development fund.

He said since the country has lagged behind in the hydro sector, even NTPC has been asked to pitch in the Hydro sector. ''The hydro thermal ratio has come down from 46 per cent to 20 per cent,'' Mr Shahi said.

UNI/RT CS VV1823