Centre Charts ₹6.4 tn Blueprint For Northeast power
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Delhi
- Oct 13, 2025
- 566
In a major step toward tapping India’s vast hydropower potential and bolstering energy security, the Union government has unveiled a ₹6.4 trillion (US$77 billion) plan to transmit over 76 gigawatts (GW) of electricity from the Brahmaputra basin by 2047, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) said on Monday.
According to a comprehensive report released by the CEA, the plan envisions the evacuation of power from 208 large hydro projects spread across 12 sub-basins in the northeastern states, with a combined potential of 64.9 GW. An additional 11.1 GW will come from pumped-storage facilities designed to balance intermittent renewable generation.
> “Given the substantial hydroelectric potential identified within the Brahmaputra basin, a master transmission plan has been prepared to evacuate about 65 GW of generation capacity from 12 sub-basins,” the CEA report stated.
The Brahmaputra River—originating in Tibet as the Yarlung Zangbo and flowing through India and Bangladesh—hosts some of the richest hydropower resources in the country, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, which alone accounts for 52.2 GW of potential capacity.
The plan will be executed in two phases:
Phase I (till 2035): Estimated cost of ₹1.91 trillion
Phase II (till 2047): Estimated cost of ₹4.52 trillion
Strategic and Environmental Dimensions
The Brahmaputra basin spans Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, and West Bengal—holding over 80% of India’s untapped hydropower potential, according to the CEA.
However, the transboundary nature of the river has raised strategic and ecological sensitivities. India has repeatedly voiced concern over China’s plans to construct a massive dam on the Yarlung Zangbo in southeastern Tibet, close to the Indian border.
Beijing began work on the project in July, with Premier Li Qiang attending the groundbreaking ceremony.
In January, India’s Ministry of External Affairs urged China to ensure that “the interests of downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas,” amid fears that a large dam could reduce dry-season water flows by as much as 85%.
Energy Transition Push
The initiative aligns with India’s broader climate and energy goals—achieving 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070. Hydropower, with its reliability and ability to balance renewables, is seen as a crucial component of this transition.
Analysts say the plan not only seeks to unlock the Northeast’s energy potential but also underscores India’s strategic intent to strengthen its presence and infrastructure in a region of increasing geopolitical sensitivity