ITANAGAR, Sept 14 - Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has dedicated the 24-MW Dikshi Hydro Electric Project (HEP) to the people of the State. He formally inaugurated the project near Rupa in West Kameng district by unveiling a plaque and switching on a device at the power house in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and other dignitaries on Friday.
Meanwhile, taking strong exception to the failure of several private developers in completing hydro projects allotted to them, the State Government has terminated 22 projects with a total power generation capacity of 3,800 MW for non-performance, while developers engaged in 46 more projects with a total generation capacity of about 8,000 MW have been served notices, the Chief Minister said. These private players have lost public confidence, he added.
The Chief Minister congratulated Devi Energies Private Limited on completing the Dikshi HEP on record time. The foundation of the project was laid in November 2016 by Khandu himself. He hailed timely completion of the project not only as an achievement of the State Government but also of the local community since it would not have been possible without their cooperation.
Khandu said support of the local people is required to make Arunachal a power-surplus and power-exporting State. He also described the project as �historic� since it was the first power project to be successfully developed by a private developer in the State.
Reiterating his stand that no project would come up without holding consultations with or taking the consent of the locals, Khandu appreciated the villagers in the vicinity for supporting the project.
He disclosed that the Government was exploring potential hydroelectric projects in the district, and that PSUs and serious individual private power developers like Devi Energies Private Limited would be given priority for executing these projects.
Giving a clarion call not to fall prey to �issue-mongers who make issues for their political gains�, Khandu said, �It is high time that we changed our mindset and thought for what is good for us.�
�Clean and green energy can change the economy of the State and the region,� he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein exuded happiness over successful completion of the Dikshi HEP and described it as a historic moment for the State.
Among others, the CMD of the Dikshi HEP also spoke on the occasion. Former Speaker TN Thongdok and former Minister DK Thongdok, who is also the director of Devi Energies Private Limited, attended the function.
