Record number of MoUs and MoAs inked by Arunachal 

Itanagar, Jul 18 : Despite stiff opposition and concern against construction of large dams by various pressure groups, Arunachal Pradesh has made a record of inking 103 memorandums of agreement (MoAs) and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with various power developers since February 2006 for executing hydro power projects in the state. 

The information in this regard came to light when Arunachal Citizens Right (ACR) filed a petition under RTI Act seeking information on power dealings in the state. 

The ACR, which has been raising concern on the rapid pace at which the state government has signed MoAs and MoUs with hydropower companies in recent times, informed that the out of the total MoAs/MoUs signed, 31 were signed in just five months before the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, each accompanied by huge monetary advances. 

The state plans to sign a total of 135 MoAs/MoUs for generating 57,000 MW of power from hydro power sector. 

The Jindal Group signed agreement for two projects with total capacity 4,500 MW in December last year and paid an advance of Rs 297.5 crore to the state government. Similarly, Reliance Energy Limited inked MoU for four projects with total capacity of 2,520 MW in March this year and paid Rs 98 crore as advance. Reliance had already signed agreement during 2006, one of which (1000 MW Siyom project) was taken away from National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) and given to the private company. 

The two projects signed by Jindal Group were also earlier awarded to National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), but were taken away as they could not pay upfront advances as demanded by the state government.