Arunachal flags infrastructure deficit

Arunachal Pradesh has asked the 15th Finance Commission to factor in infrastructure deficit and development of areas bordering China and Myanmar for arriving at a ratio of allotment of central tax share to the States.

Apart from roads, the focus of the frontier State’s infrastructure is on several major hydropower projects that have either not taken off or are stuck at various stages of construction.

According to the Central Electricity Authority’s on January 31 last year, Arunachal Pradesh has 50,328 MW of the country’s total 148,701 MW identified hydropower potential through projects with generating capacity of 25 MW or more. The State has some 140 hydroelectric projects, large and small, awaiting clearance or stuck at various stages of implementation since allotment after the government came out with a hydropower policy in 2007-2008.

These projects include the 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri Project that NHPC started constructing in December 2007. Work on the project stopped in 2011 due to protests by anti-dam activists and NGOs in Assam.

In a memorandum to the Commission, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu sought weightage for infrastructure deficit and backward border areas.

“Our State faces challenges and offers opportunities in hydro power, infrastructure and tourism” besides education and health, he said.

He noted that poor access to remote mountainous areas was leading to rise in prices of commodities.