The huge untapped natural resources in Arunachal Pradesh when harnessed would make it a front ranking State, Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu said today.

Development of hydropower projects alone, for which the State Government has signed MOUs with several CPUs and private players, would generate at least Rs 12,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore revenue by 2018-20, Khandu told a press conference here.

ITANAGAR, July 17

Opposition members today made a strong plea to go for micro hydel projects instead of the mega ones, to meet the power demand of the State and the NE region as well.

Anil Ambani-led Reliance Power will invest over Rs 12,000 crore for executing 2,520-MW hydro power projects in Arunachal Pradesh, to be commissioned in the next Five Year Plan (2012-17).

"Reliance Power has signed an agreement with the Arunachal Pradesh government for developing 2,520 MW of hydro power projects in the state," a Reliance Power spokesperson said.

A Rs 275.58-crore project for the electrification of villages in Arunachal Pradesh will be implemented in the next three years.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has cleared implementation of Pare Hydro Electric Project (110 MW) in Arunachal Pradesh by North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO). The Project is estimated to cost Rs.573.99 crore. Briefing newsmen, Union Minister of State, Prithviraj Chavan said that the Project is scheduled to be commissioned in 44 months.

Tripura Renewable Energy Agency (TREA) has adopted an ambitious plan for producing low-cost electricity. As part of the plan, one solar hybrid project has been installed on top of the Vigyan Bhavan recently. The project that was established at a cost of Rs 5 lakh is unique in nature as it uses both wind and sunlight to generate power. The project has been producing two-kilo watt power each day by using wind as well as Sun, said Subhash Chowdhury, Director of TREA here on Tuesday.

Surface communication at several places in Arunachal Pradesh has been disrupted following landslides triggered by torrential rain for the last couple of days.

Over seven lakh bighas of Asom land have been encroached by four neighouring States