Arunachal scrap 22 hydel projects for “non-serious” investors

The Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu today made it clear that his government had scrapped the 22 hydel projects for  "non-performance' by "non-serious investors".

"We want good investors. These companies have used these hydel projects to jack up their share prices. This is a fraud with people of Arunachal Pradesh. We need good and serious investors" the Chief Minister said exclusively to Pratidin Time at Itanagar.

"We are also about to scrap another 48 projects whichhave not taken off. These will amount to 8000 MW. We can not allow theseinvestors to play with the people of Arunachal Pradesh" said the ChiefMinister.

His action was initially confused as an act related with the environmental issue as only on Sunday last speaking at the Engineers Day celebrations, Khandu said infrastructure should not be created at the cost of environment and cultural identity of the state.

However, Monday's statement had completely altered the scene as apparently Chief Minister was upset for not starting the Hydel project.

The Chief Minister did not clarify whether he would floatretender for these projects or hand over to the PSUs like NHPC or scrap themaltogether.

Arunachal Pradesh was among 16 States identified during theAtal Bihari Vajpayee government for an ambitious plan in 2003 to make Indiaproduce 50,000 MW or hydroelectricity by 2017.

Between 2005-2010, almost all major investors of Mumbai and Delhi had bagged hydel projects of various subject.  These include biggies like Reliance Power to Patel Engineering. But none seriously pushed ahead the project as all were looking at the development of the NHPC project.