Arunachal frontier town Vijoynagar gets first reliable power grid

Itanagar: Vijoynagar finally has the lights on. The remote border circle in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh connected to the power grid this July. Officials finished the 2x250 kW Sirit Micro Hydro Scheme to reach the isolated region. It borders Myanmar and sits trapped by the dense Namdapha National Park.

Construction cost 14 crore rupees. The project now serves more than 1,500 residents across eight villages: Dara Gaon, Dawodi, Phaparbari, Gahrigaon, Hazolo, Ramnagar, Buddhamandir, and the Vijoynagar headquarters. Miao-Vijoynagar MLA Kamlung Mossang announced the milestone on July 17. The state Hydro Power Development Department and the Power Department teamed up to finish the work despite rugged terrain.

Mossang expects the power to boost local healthcare, education, and farm output. "Access to electricity will significantly improve education, healthcare, communication, livelihoods and the overall quality of life for the people here, while opening new doors for growth and economic progress," Mossang said. The region now plans to push into eco-tourism and organic agriculture. Mossang credited Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein for backing the project.