Hydel power project to be set up in West Karbi Anglong

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• Tuliram Ronghang briefing the public on proposed hydel project in Tharakunchi, West Karbi Anglong. (EM Images)

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• DIPHU — The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) has announced its plan to establish a hydel power project at Tharakunchi in West Karbi Anglong's Amri constituency, some 170 km from Diphu.
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• This was disclosed during a public interaction held at Tharakunchi LP School playground on May 24, which brought together local residents, APDCL officials, representatives from Green Company Private Limited, and KAAC officials led by Chief Executive Member (CEM), Tuliram Ronghang.
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• Officials from Green Company and Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) presented insights on the hydel power project to the local and KAAC officials.
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• Speaking to the media, CEM Tuliram Ronghang informed that the project involves extracting water from a river, storing it in a tank, and releasing it at night to generate electricity.

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• The survey, currently underway, is expected to take a year. After its completion, a joint venture between KAAC, the state government, APDCL, and Green Co. Pvt. Ltd. will be formed, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed.
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• The project's finalisation will depend on the outcome of the survey and the MoU. If approved, the project will take five years to complete, requiring 2,500 employees during construction, with priority given to local youth. Upon completion, 300 employees will be offered permanent jobs, the CEM said.
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• Ronghang assured that there will be no house demolitions within the project area. The water tank will be set up in a Council Proposed Reserve Forest, which will be converted to revenue land after consultation with the KAAC executive committee. Land pattas will also be issued to those who do not currently have them, he said.
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• Rajib Kumar Sawarn, Vice President of Green Co. Pvt. Ltd, stated that they had come for a survey of the proposed hydel project at Tharakunchi, accompanied by technical engineers and environmentalists.
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• “We are thankful to the KAAC, Assam Government, and Indian Government for giving us this opportunity to work towards development in this area. We appreciate the people's full cooperation so far and look forward to their continued support.
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• “This is one of the first projects coming up with a new technology in the state of Assam. Karbi Anglong district is a pioneer in bringing this project to success. This project would give lots of development and prosperity to this region,” he said.
  
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• Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) and Executive Member (EM), Uphing Maslai, informed that water will be extracted from the Killing River, stored in a primary tank, and released at night to a secondary tank for electricity generation. The water will then be recycled back to the primary tank. He also mentioned that land compensation will be provided after the survey of the land area.