NHPC hands over DPRs to Jaiprakash. REL

National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) has handed over the detailed project reports (DPRs) of two major hydropower projects in Arunachal Pradesh to Jaiprakash Associates and Reliance Energy.

Dorjee Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, said Jaiprakash Associates had paid Rs 111 crore and Reliance Energy Rs 77 crore to NHPC against the DPRs prepared by it after years of survey and investigations in Siang basin.

The two projects - 1600 Mw Siang Lower and 1000 Mw (Siyom) taken up by NHPC - got into problems after the state government signed a memorandum of association with PPDS in 2005-06 following payment of upfront money of Rs 5.1 crore by Jaiprakash Associates and Rs 3.1 crore by Reliance Energy to the government.

Khandu said Tato-II was also awarded to Reliance Energy on payment of Rs 2.17 crore upfront money and the issue was being processed by the Central Electricity Authority.

Arunachal Pradesh, considered to be the future power house of the country with over 55,000 Mw hydropower potential, has signed MoUs and MoAs with PSUs and PPDS for 53 projects with a total installed capacity of 24,087 Mw.