Arunachal Okays Joint Venture for 5 New Hydropower Projects

The Location and the Meeting Carried Symbolic Heft, Coming Just Days After China Released New Names for Places in the State

- Damien Lepcha

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh government on Tuesday announced the formation of a company to implement five major hydropower projects, including three new ones, in the north-eastern state's Shi-Yomi district, which borders China.

The formation of M/s NEEPCO Arunachal Hydro Power Corporation Limited, a joint venture with the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) to implement the Tato I, Heo, Tato II, Naying, and Hirong projects -- Tato I and Heo were previously cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and construction on them is to begin shortly -- was announced during a historic sitting of the state's cabinet at Kibithu, a remote village just 8 km south of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China.

Sending a strong signal of sovereignty and resolve from the frontier, the cabinet cleared a series of sweeping decisions related to hydropower, governance, education, and security.