New Delhi/Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein underscored the state’s pivotal contribution to India’s renewable energy goals, revealing that Arunachal’s hydropower potential constitutes over 38 per cent of the country’s total estimated capacity. Speaking at the Power Ministerial Meet and India Electricity Summit 2026 held at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, Mein urged central authorities for targeted policy measures to harness the state’s untapped 58 GW hydropower resources effectively.
The high-level summit, attended by Union Minister for Power and Housing Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar and other key sectoral leaders, focused on pressing issues including financial sustainability of power projects, the Electricity Amendment Bill, updates to the National Electricity Policy, and strategies for nuclear capacity expansion by 2047.
During a panel discussion, Deputy CM Mein emphasized the need for accelerated development of hydropower projects in Arunachal Pradesh. He advocated greater engagement of Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) to curb escalating project costs and expedite execution. Mein also stressed the critical requirement for robust transmission infrastructure, proposing the establishment of 220 kV and higher voltage networks to facilitate efficient power evacuation from remote hilly terrains.
Highlighting infrastructure bottlenecks, he called for improvements in roads, bridges, and supporting systems essential for large-scale project implementation in the state’s challenging geography.
A key policy demand raised by Mein was the extension of the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charge waiver beyond its current expiry in June 2028, up to 2035. He argued that such prolonged support is vital to ensure the economic viability of hydropower initiatives in frontier states like Arunachal Pradesh.
Reaffirming the state’s alignment with the national vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, Mein called for enhanced collaboration between the Centre and states, timely policy interventions, and strategic investments to fully realize Arunachal’s hydropower potential. He positioned the state as a cornerstone in India’s clean energy transition, capable of bolstering national energy security through sustainable, renewable sources.
This advocacy comes amid ongoing efforts to develop major projects in Arunachal, building on recent central approvals like the Small Hydro Power Development Scheme, and aims to drive long-term revenue generation, employment, and regional development through responsible hydropower harnessing.
Tags: Chowna Mein, Arunachal Hydropower Potential, Power Ministerial Meet 2026, India Electricity Summit, ISTS Charge Waiver, Clean Energy Transition, 58 GW Capacity, Northeast Hydropower, Viksit Bharat 2047, Union Power Minister
Hashtags: #ChownaMein #ArunachalPradesh #Hydropower #CleanEnergy #IndiaElectricitySummit #RenewableEnergy #NortheastIndia #PowerSector #ViksitBharat #AssamArunachal
