India greenlights 2 hydropower projects in Arunachal grid expansion drive

Kalai-II and Kamala HEPs will have a combined capacity of 2,920 MW.

India’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved investment proposals for two hydropower projects in Arunachal Pradesh with a combined capacity of 2,920 Megawatts (MW).

In a press release, the Ministry of Power said the government has cleared the 1,200 MW Kalai-II Hydro Electric Project (HEP) in Anjaw district, with an outlay of INR14,105.83 crore, and the 1,720-MW Kamala HEP across Kamle, Kra Daadi, and Kurung Kumey districts, with an outlay of INR26,069.50 crore.

Kalai-II HEP will be built on the Lohit River and is expected to generate 4,852.95 million units (MU) of electricity annually. The project will take 78 months to complete and will include around 29 kilometres of roads and bridges for local use.

The Government of India will provide INR599.88 crore for roads, bridges, and transmission infrastructure, and INR750 crore as central financial assistance for the state’s equity share.

It will be developed through a joint venture between THDC India Limited and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

Kamala HEP will be built across Kamle, Kra Daadi, and Kurung Kumey districts. It is expected to generate 6,870 MU annually and will take 96 months to complete.

The Centre will provide INR4,743.98 crore for flood moderation and INR1,340 crore for roads, bridges, and transmission infrastructure, along with INR750 crore as central financial assistance for the state’s equity share.

The project will include around 196 km of roads and bridges, and infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and marketplaces financed from project funds.

It will be implemented through a joint venture between NHPC Limited and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Kamala project is part of a wider hydropower build-out in Arunachal Pradesh, which includes the Subansiri Lower (2,000 MW), Dibang Multipurpose (2,880 MW), and Etalin (3,097 MW) projects under development by NHPC Limited.

Subansiri Lower is at an advanced stage, with 750 MW already commissioned and the remaining capacity expected by December 2026.

Both Kalai-II and Kamala projects will provide 12% free power to the host state and allocate 1% of revenue to Local Area Development Funds.