The development of the 186 MW Dikhu Hydro Electric Project (HEP), one of the largest infrastructure proposals in Nagaland, is currently facing significant challenges due to land acquisition issues. The project spans across the districts of Longleng, Mon, and Mokokchung, but progress has been stalled due to “some unwilling villages under Longleng district for a long time,” according to the Department of Power, Nagaland.
It was also informed that the Techno Economic Clearance (TEC) of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Ministry of Power, Government of India, without which no project can be developed, will be expiring in March 2025, adding urgency to the need for resolving the land acquisition hurdles.
The 186MW Dikhu HEP, according to the Department of Power, shall usher in rapid socio-economic development of the three districts, and benefit the whole state towards industrialization. It is expected that the project will bring in advancements in education, health, communication, and industrialization, which will collectively support the overall development of the state. It holds the potential to significantly improve the future prospects for the people, especially the youth, of Nagaland.
Thus, the Department, in order to address these challenges and move forward with the project, has organized a “Stakeholders Meet” on July 29, 2024, at 2:30 PM in the conference hall of Hotel Saramati, Dimapur. Various stakeholders have been invited to participate in this meeting, along with at least ten members from their respective associations, to discuss and find solutions to the ongoing issues.
Among those invited, apart from the government officials, include the business organizations such as the Business Association of Nagas (BAN), the Chambers of Commerce of Longleng, Mon, and Mokokchung, the Langpangkong Students’ Conference, and the Wakching Area Students’ Conference.