Goyal promises to end Subansiri project impasse

Guwahati: Union minister of state for power Piyush Goyal has promised to resolve the impasse over construction of the 2000-MW Lower Subansiri hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh by ensuring that Assam being at the downstream gets the best benefits.
Speaking at the two-day conference of power, renewable energy and mines here on Thursday, Goyal said the impasse over the Lower Subansiri project will be resolved by holding discussions with the people of Assam, experts and the state government.
The construction of the Lower Subansiri project at Gerukamukh in Arunachal Pradesh has been stopped since 2011 following protests by anti-dam groups who alleged that Assam being on the downstream will bear the brunt of environmental impact. “Assam needs power to supply electricity to each and every home across the state. The state also needs power for growth of industry and create job opportunities. We will resolve the issue in such a way so that it is beneficial for Assam and its people,” said Goyal.
In December last year, Goyal had a meeting with groups opposing the dam and experts to resolve the issue. After the meeting, an eight-member expert committee was formed to look into the feasibility of the project.
The Assam government, however, raised the pitch for increasing the quantum of purchased power from 208 MW to 600 MW and free power from 25 MW to 120 MW from the Lower Subansiri project. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said while the state government supports efforts to resume construction of the Lower Subansiri project, it also wants reviewing of the present power sharing formula from hydroelectric and thermal power projects.
Gogoi said importance must be given to lower riparian states whose ecology and agrarian life are disrupted due to hydroelectric projects.
The conference attended by power ministers of different states has been organized for the first time outside New Delhi here.