Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has termed hydropower as the key player of the state’s economic future, informing that projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore were on the anvil in the frontier state.
Addressing a programme on Statehood Day on Friday, Khandu announced 2025-2035 as the ‘Decade of Hydropower’, stressing the pivotal role of hydropower in the state.
“As of now, 1.2 GW of projects is operational, while 4.8 GW is under construction. The 2,000-MW Subansiri Lower Project is slated for completion by this year, while the 2,880-MW Dibang Project is targeted for 2032. Once operational, these projects will churn out Rs 4,000 crore in yearly revenue besides generating over 30,000 direct jobs plus 16,000 indirect ones, the Chief minister said.
Highlighting that state’s mineral wealth lies in coal and graphite, with mining blocks already auctioned and more surveys in progress, he said that Arunachal has shifted from frontier outpost to rapid-growth hub.
“Since 2015, the Gross State Domestic Product has grown by 166 per cent… and per capita income by over 105 per cent. The state budget has increased by 218 per cent during the period,” he said.
Khandu further said that connectivity was the bedrock of development, with road networks up 251 per cent, 4,060 km of national highways building, and Rs 55,000 crore pledged for frontier highways.
“Healthcare has got a Rs 3,666-crore boost, while education reforms via ‘Mission Shikshit Arunachal 2029’ pour in Rs 750 crore for school upgrades, hostels, AI monitoring, and India’s first 3D-printed classrooms,” he said.
