Tawang: In a major step towards accelerating hydropower development in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday handed over a cheque of Rs 269.97 crore to the Deputy Commissioner of Dibang Valley district as land compensation for the 3,097 MW Etalin Hydro-Electric Project.
The amount, released by public sector undertaking SJVN Ltd., has been deposited in the joint account of the Deputy Commissioner and District Land Revenue Settlement Officer of Dibang Valley on March 26, 2025, officials said.
The formal handing over of the cheque was done during a review meeting chaired by Khandu at the Circuit House here.
The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Chief Secretary Manish Gupta, Commissioner (Power) Sonam Chombay, Advisor to the Government H K Paliwal, Secretary (Land Management) A K Singh, and SJVN CMD Raj Kumar Chaudhary.
Shiraj Swan, Head of Project (Etalin HEP), presented the cheque to Deputy Commissioner Pagli Sora.
“This marks a significant step forward in the construction of the Etalin project,” Khandu said, while thanking the Mishmi community for their support. “Your cooperation is crucial for realising Arunachal Pradesh’s vision of harnessing its vast hydropower potential for sustainable growth.”
The 3,097 MW Etalin project was taken over by SJVN Ltd. along with four other hydro projects in Arunachal Pradesh totalling 5,097 MW following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the state government on August 12, 2023. All five projects are located in Dibang Valley and are expected to bring in a cumulative investment of around Rs 60,000 crore.
SJVN CMD Chaudhary said the release of compensation was a significant move towards inclusive development.
“SJVN is committed to responsible and inclusive development of Arunachal Pradesh. The release of this compensation amount is a major step in honouring the rights of the local communities while ensuring progress of vital infrastructure projects for the nation,” he said.
The Etalin project involves the construction of two dams — one on the Dri River and another on the Talo (Tangon) River — with an underground powerhouse complex situated near the confluence of the two rivers, close to Etalin village. The project is scheduled for commissioning in December 2033.
SJVN Ltd. is a public sector enterprise engaged in the development of hydro, solar, wind, and thermal power projects in India and abroad.
Also read: Khandu urges focus on smaller hydropower projects
