Govt fast-tracks Arunachal dam project to counter China threat

NHPC says Centre's funding a boost for Siang valley dam; in talks with ministries, state

- SHREYA JAI

With an eye on China developing a mega hydro project in the vicinity of Arunachal Pradesh, the Centre has accelerated the development of its colossal dam in the Siang upper valley, which will be the country's biggest to date. The recently announced financial assistance by the Union Cabinet for hydropower (or hydel) projects is aimed at the initial project management of the Siang upper valley dam, said senior officials.

The proposed project has a three-pronged agenda - flood management, water flow correction, and power generation as a by-product. State-owned hydropower major NHPC has been entrusted with developing a detailed project report (DPR) and project feasibility report (PFR). According to estimates by NHPC, the dam will have the capacity to generate 10-12 gigawatts (Gw) of hydropower, making it the largest hydel project in India. The projected cost is expected to be ₹1 trillion, said officials.