The Citizens Right Protection Forum (CRPF) has urged the Arunachal Pradesh government to provide free electricity to families affected by the NHPC’s 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHEP), saying the benefit is guaranteed under the agreement signed between the project developer and the state government. In a representation submitted to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, CRPF chairman Ajay Murtem said project-affected families in Dollungmukh of Kamle district are entitled to free electricity under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on January 27, 2010, as well as the Government of India’s hydropower policy. Murtem said the MoU provides Arunachal Pradesh with 12 per cent free power as royalty from the project, along with an additional 1 per cent free power earmarked for the Local Area Development Fund (LADF). Referring to NHPC’s official disclosures, he said the state is entitled to about 10.75 per cent free power, or nearly 215 MW, while neighbouring Assam receives about 1.25 per cent, or around 25 MW. An additional one per cent, approximately 20 MW, has been reserved for local area development in project-affected areas.
The forum pointed out that despite the commissioning of 132/33 KV and 33/11 KV substations at Kalaptuker by PowerGrid several years ago to facilitate power evacuation from the project, many residents of the affected region are still waiting for a reliable electricity supply. Murtem said the total electricity requirement of the entire Dollungmukh area is estimated to be only about 1 MW, which is a small portion of the free power allocated to the state under the project agreement. He said extending free electricity to affected families would fulfil the commitments made by the government and the project developer while ensuring that local communities receive tangible benefits for the sacrifices they made during the implementation of the hydropower project. According to the representation, reliable and free electricity would also support industrial development, agriculture, horticulture, dairy farming, fisheries and tea cultivation in the Dollungmukh region, contributing to long-term economic growth. The forum further urged the Chief Minister to ensure that the Local Area Development Fund is used effectively for the welfare of affected communities and for infrastructure development in the project area.
It also called on the state government to convene a joint meeting involving government officials, NHPC representatives and local public representatives to prepare an early implementation plan. The forum sought immediate directions for energising and extending electricity connections to all remaining habitations in the project-affected areas. Expressing confidence in the Chief Minister’s intervention, the CRPF said timely implementation of the agreement would help protect the legitimate rights of the people of Dollungmukh and ensure that the benefits promised under the project are delivered without further delay.
