The North eastern power region has achieved only 3.02 per cent of its’ hydro potentiality up to October 2013, whereas national average is 23.53 per cent. Even after completion of different hydro schemes under construction, the potentiality will be achieved up to 4.84 per cent only. Among the eight states of the North East Arunachal Pradesh has the highest Hydro potentiality with 50,328 M.W that is 79.56 per cent of this region and 33.84 per cent of the country. Arunachal Pradesh itself could be the ‘Power House’ of India. As of October 2010, there were 132 memoranda of understanding (MOU) signed between the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and potential developers of hydropower projects with a total capacity of 40,140MW. 120 of those memoranda are with private companies. According to one estimate, in a ten year period, Arunachal Pradesh proposes to add hydro-power capacity which is only a little less than the total hydropower capacity added in the whole country in 70 years of independence. Sikkim stands second with 6.77 per cent and Meghalaya stands third with 3.78 per cent hydro potential among all states of the region.
Among all the North-Eastern states Assam has harnessed maximum hydro potentiality 55.14 per cent following Sikkim 15.6 per cent and Meghalaya 11.78 per cent. Arunachal Pradesh harnessed only 0.8 per cent of it’s’ potentiality. In term of projects under construction Arunachal ranks 1st and Sikkim is 2nd in this region. After the completion of these projects where Sikkim will achieve 69.77 per cent of hydro potential, Arunachal Pradesh will get only 6.18 per cent of its’ potentiality. Among the all North Eastern states Sikkim and Assam are in advance stage in term of achievement of hydro potential and others are enough lagging behind. Over all development of the region is not satisfactory at all, this region has harnessed only 3.02 per cent hydro potentiality, 8.12 per cent is in capacity building stage and rest 88.36 per cent yet to be harnessed.
Dr.A.Rajmani Singh
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