Tato-II Hydroelectric Project: River, Location, Type, Cost & UPSC Notes

The Tato-II Hydroelectric Project is a clean energy project in Arunachal Pradesh. It uses water from the Siyom River to produce 700 MW of electricity, enough to power many homes. The project has four big turbines that generate power without needing a big dam. It helps provide electricity to local people and nearby areas. This project is a team effort between the government of Arunachal Pradesh and a power company called NEEPCO.

The Tato-II Hydroelectric Project fits mainly under General Studies Paper 3 in UPSC. The topic falls under "Energy," "Infrastructure," and "Environment." It is related to subjects like hydropower, renewable energy, river basin management, and sustainable development, which are part of the economy and environment sections of GS Paper 3, which are easy for everyone to understand. This topic discusses India's clean energy development and hydroelectric power projects. Join the UPSC coaching today and boost your preparation.

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What Is the Tato-II Hydroelectric Project?

• Location & Type: It's a run-of-river hydroelectric project located on the Siyom River in the Shi Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Capacity: The project will generate 700 megawatts (MW) using four turbines, each producing 175 MW.
• Reservoir Details: It involves a planned reservoir with a 56 million cubic meters capacity. It includes two penstocks (long pipes) of 350 m length and 7 m diameter that channel water to the turbines. The elevation head is around 194 m net.

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Timeline

• Construction is expected to start around 2029, with the plant operational by 2033.

Investment & Implementation

• Cost: Sanctioned investment of around 8,146.21 crore (about 81.46 billion rupees).
• Implementation: A joint venture between the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd. (NEEPCO) will jointly undertake the project.

Benefits & Returns

• Energy Output: Expected to produce around 2,738 million units (MU) of electricity annually.
• State Benefits:
  • 12% of the generated power will be supplied free of cost to Arunachal Pradesh.
  • An additional 1% will go to a Local Area Development Fund (LADF).
• Infrastructure Support:
  • The Centre will allocate ₹458.79 crore for infrastructure like roads, bridges, and transmission lines, and another ₹436.13 crore as financial assistance for the state's equity share.
• Local Development:
  • The building has about 32.88 km of roads and bridges, mostly accessible to locals.
  • A dedicated fund of ₹20 crore for setting up hospitals, schools, marketplaces, playgrounds, etc.
  • Creation of jobs, opportunities for MSMEs, and various CSR activities.
• Grid & National Impact: Helps stabilize the national electricity grid, while meeting regional energy needs.

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Summary Table

Overall, the Tato-II project is more than just electricity generation—it's a comprehensive effort to boost regional growth, build infrastructure, create jobs, and support sustainable development in Arunachal Pradesh.

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Significance

The Tato-II Hydroelectric Project is essential because it helps produce a large amount of clean electricity using the natural flow of the Siyom River in Arunachal Pradesh. It will generate 700 megawatts of power to light up many homes and towns. This project will improve the state's electricity supply and support the country's power system by balancing the national grid.

Besides giving more power, the project will help the local people in many ways. It will create jobs during construction and later for maintenance, assisting families in earning money. The government is also building new roads and bridges, and funding schools, hospitals, and playgrounds in nearby areas, making life better for the community. Arunachal Pradesh will get 12% of the electricity free, and some power will be used to develop and support the local area.

Overall, the Tato-II project brings clean energy, helps in local growth, creates jobs, and improves living conditions, making it very important for the people of Arunachal Pradesh and India's green energy goals.

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Conclusion

The Tato-II Hydroelectric Project is an important clean energy project in Arunachal Pradesh. It will use the flow of the Siyom River to make lots of electricity without polluting the environment. This project will help provide more power to homes, schools, and businesses nearby. It will also create jobs, build better roads, and improve the lives of local people. Overall, the project will bring good changes and support a greener future for everyone.