Itanagar, Nov 14: Signalling a renewed push toward clean energy transformation, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein today launched a rebranded and future ready identity for the state’s hydropower department, marking the beginning of “DHPD 2.0” a unified effort to accelerate hydropower development while safeguarding the state's ecological wealth.
The initiative came as the government convened its first ever annual review meeting of the Hydropower Development Department.
The deputy chief minister noted that Arunachal Pradesh holds nearly 40 percent of India's total hydropower potential, yet only about 2 percent (1,227.12 MW) has been harnessed so far. Around 31 percent is in advanced stages of approval and will soon enter construction, while nearly 57 percent remain to be tapped.
Mein said the state government is committed to unlocking this potential to support Arunachal's growth and India’s clean energy transition. The government has declared 2025 to 2035 as the ‘Decade of Hydropower’ to bring focused attention to the sector and attract major investments. Nearly 19,000 MW of capacity is expected to be commissioned in the next decade, with investments of approximately Rs 1.9 lakh crore.
He emphasised that hydropower is not just an energy source but a catalyst for building an industrial ecosystem for Arunachal Pradesh and the North East.
Reiterating the importance of skilling, Mein said, “We need this kind of skilled manpower in Arunachal Pradesh. Skill development is essential for the growth of our department and for the progress of our state.”
He said hydropower requires specialised expertise, and therefore structured month long training programmes have been introduced to enhance technical capabilities.
Unveiling the department’s new logo and the tagline “Powering Progress, Naturally”, Mein said the redesigned identity reflects Arunachal’s belief that development must progress in harmony with nature. The logo, featuring the rising sun, flowing rivers, dams and power lines, represents the state's transition toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
The meeting, attended by Hydropower Advisor Ninong Ering and senior officials, brought together engineers, policymakers and stakeholders to assess ongoing projects, strengthen inter departmental coordination and outline long term strategies for tapping the state’s vast hydropower reserves.
Mein announced to fully revamp the Hydropower Department with the restructured DHPD 2.0. He emphasised the need to strengthen human resources within the sector saying, “We need skilled manpower in Arunachal Pradesh. Skill development is essential for the growth of our department and for the state’s progress,” he said.Highlighting the complexity of the sector, he noted that hydropower requires specialised expertise. “Hydropower involves large and complex projects. This makes skilled manpower even more important. That is why we have introduced structured month-long training programmes for our staff to enhance their technical capabilities,” he added.
Reflecting on the state’s immense hydropower potential, the Deputy Chief Minister said Arunachal Pradesh holds nearly 40 percent of India’s total hydropower capacity, estimated at around 58 thousand megawatts.
Sharing the historical context, he said that while large capacities were earlier allotted to various private developers, however, it did not made progress and were ultimately terminated. He added that some projects originally with CPSUs were also re-allocated during that period. “Over time, it became clear that a new approach was needed to fully realize our hydro potential,” Mein said.
He noted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the state government has adopted a proactive and structured strategy to revive and accelerate stalled projects. 
Mein informed that with the support of the Central Govt, in the first phase, nineteen projects have already been reassigned for revival, and work is progressing in a focused manner.
On the occasion, he also handover the basin-wise charges of Chief Engineers as per the restructured DHPD 2.0, marking a new era of basin-wise restructuring in the Department of Hydro Power Development.
Approved by the State Cabinet on 13th May 2025, the restructuring aims to make the Department more efficient, accountable, and technically empowered to meet the growing demands of Arunachal Pradesh’s hydropower sector.
During the session, the Deputy Chief Minister also felicitated outstanding engineers from the department, acknowledging their dedicated service in improving infrastructure and project execution across districts. Their work, Mein said, stands as a model of technical excellence and teamwork in the state’s energy sector.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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