ITANAGAR, Nov 4: Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Hydropower Development Corporation of Arunachal Pradesh Limited (HPDCAPL), Dr Toko Onuj, has called for region-specific financial and policy support to accelerate renewable energy development in the Northeast, citing the region's difficult terrain, high construction costs and infrastructure constraints.
Participating as a panelist at the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Onuj highlighted the region's vast renewable energy potential, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, and stressed the need for a stronger financial, institutional and policy framework to translate it into viable projects, investment and employment opportunities.
During a panel discussion on challenges and opportunities in small hydropower development and promotion of green energy in the Northeast, he welcomed the Union government's Small Hydro Power Development Scheme under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), but called for financial assistance tailored to the region's geographical and logistical challenges.
He specifically suggested reconsidering the existing Rs 30-crore maximum central financial assistance ceiling for eligible projects in difficult Himalayan locations and providing separate support for road connectivity, bridges and power evacuation infrastructure.
Onuj proposed setting up a Regional Centre for Small Hydro Power Technical Excellence to support preparation of bankable detailed project reports and technical investigations, besides Regional Renewable Energy Skill Development Centres to train local youth in emerging green technologies.
He also called for a Northeastern Renewable Energy Mission for 2026-2035, backed by a dedicated Renewable Energy Development Corpus Fund. Other suggestions included strengthening state nodal agencies and hydropower development corporations, introducing time-bound single-window clearances, encouraging public-private partnerships and linking eligible small hydropower projects with carbon markets.
Emphasising local employment, community participation and environmental sustainability, Onuj said the success of renewable energy initiatives should be assessed by actual project implementation and their contribution to regional economic development.
Describing the Northeast as the “Ashtalakshmi of India”, he said the region needed differentiated policy support rather than preferential treatment, and called for a coordinated renewable energy mission backed by dedicated funding.