Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said Arunachal Pradesh’s ambitious hydropower expansion could make it the richest state in the Northeast within the next decade, stressing that sustained development requires political consensus and public support.
Speaking during a discussion in the Assam Assembly, Sarma said Arunachal Pradesh is pursuing a plan to generate around 30,000 MW of hydropower and has witnessed little public opposition to the projects.
He said hydropower projects with a combined capacity of about 3,000 MW are currently under implementation, while work on projects totalling nearly 10,000 MW has commenced. The state has also drawn up plans to achieve an installed hydropower capacity of around 30,000 MW.
“If these hydropower projects are completed within the next 10 years, Arunachal Pradesh’s GDP will be nearly double that of Assam,” Sarma said.
Drawing a comparison with Assam, the Chief Minister said even relatively small infrastructure projects in the state often face delays due to protests and objections.
“We sometimes take years to complete a small flyover because of protests and objections. Arunachal Pradesh, on the other hand, is moving ahead with large hydropower projects with the cooperation of the people,” he said.
Sarma said several villages in Arunachal Pradesh have agreed to rehabilitation for the hydropower projects, with residents supporting relocation in the larger interest of the state’s development.
He said the willingness of people to accept difficult decisions for long-term economic benefits has helped Arunachal Pradesh emerge as one of the fastest-growing states in the region.
The Chief Minister added that Arunachal Pradesh is competing at the national level in infrastructure development and energy generation, and that the hydropower initiatives are expected to significantly strengthen the state’s economy.
Sarma said development-oriented policies backed by public participation and cooperation between governments and citizens are essential to attract investment and accelerate economic growth. He made the remarks while participating in a debate on development and infrastructure during the ongoing Budget session of the Assam Assembly.
(With IANS inputs)
