Media reports indicate that Arunachal Pradesh and its neighbouring states withdrew several hydroelectric power projects from NEEPCO (North Eastern Electric Power Corporation) and gave them to private firms.
Some press reports quoted officials of NEEPCO as saying that government of some north eastern states awarded 12 projects to NEEPCO as a part of the 50,000 mw programme. But these government withdrew the projects from the company on flimsy reasons, the official is quoted as saying.
It is learnt from unconfirmed reports that these 12 projects include 8 from Arunachal Pradesh, and 1 each from the governments of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Mizoram. These ranged from 125 mw to 1,500 mw. The biggest of these was Tipaimukh. Some of these projects have since been re-alloted by states. Others are yet to be alloted.
It may be recalled that in one of its report, the comptroller and auditor general of India (CAG) indicted the Arunachal Pradesh government was taking hydel projects away from NHPC and giving them to private companies.
NEEPCO also alleges that the state governments did not reimburse the expenditure incurred on preparing detailed project reports (DPR) for these projects.
The state governments, while inking their MoUs with the companies, did not put in a clause saying they would have to reimburse NEEPCO for the work it did, reports indicate.