india

Updated: Jul 18, 2019 01:18 IST

The Centre has given a green signal to the Dibang dam — set to be the largest hydro-power project in India at 278 metres — which was put on hold during the United Progressive Alliance regime due to environmental concerns.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved Rs1,600 crore for pre-investment activities and clearances for the Dibang multipurpose project in Arunachal Pradesh, which is estimated to cost Rs 28,080.35 crore to build, and once completed, will generate 2880MW power.

Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar hailed the hydro-electric multipurpose project as a “major contribution of India” to the world which is battling climate change. “This project will produce 2880 MW of power but not use any coal,” Javadekar said.

In 2013, the Forest Advisory Committee of the ministry of Environment and Forests put the project on hold after it found that around 350,000 trees had to be felled for the project that was supposed to come up on the Dibang river.

Once complete, the project is expected to generate 2880MW (12x240MW) power to produce 11223MU of energy in a 90% dependable year. “On completion, the government of Arunachal Pradesh will get 12% or 1346.76 MU free power from the project. The total value of the benefit to Arunachal Pradesh will be Rs 26,785 crore over the project life of 40 years,” an official told HT.

The project has received statutory clearances, including the environment clearance, forest clearance (stage l) and defence clearance. Only forest clearance (stage II) remains, for the project to seek investment sanction from Centre.

A sum of Rs 241 crore has been allocated for community and social development.

Sushanta Talukdar, a Guwahati-based analyst on Northeastern affairs, pointed out that the “main issue before the union government is to take the people of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh into confidence over the possible impact on the environment, as Arunachal Pradesh has a fragile geology.”

Sale, closure of PSUs

The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the setting up of a committee of ministers to expedite the process of implementing a 2016 Cabinet decision regarding the closure of pharmaceutical companies, Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited and Rajasthan Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited, and the strategic sale of Hindustan Antibiotics Limited and Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Rail projects

The CCEA approved the doubling of the New Bongaigaon and Agthori via Rangiya railway line at an estimated cost of Rs 2042.51 crore, and the construction of a 81-km line between Sahjanwa and Dohrighat in Uttar Pradesh, at a cost ofRs 1319.75 crore. Rail minister Piyush Goyal underlined that the project will offer an alternate route to connect Chhapra to Lucknow avoiding congestion at Gorakhpur.