Construction work on Dirang Energy’s 144 MW Gongri hydroelectric project is expected to start shortly. The project, being promoted by Patel Engineering, has recently been accorded the environment clearance and concurred by Central Electricity Authority. With the clearances in place, company authorities informed the power ministry that work on the project will be started shortly.The forest clearance for the project was accorded in November 2012 and environment clearance in March 2013. The project was concurred by CEA in February 2013 for the revised capacity. Gongri HEP had earlier been planned with 90 MW capacity. However, the capacity was later revised to 144 MW after detailed scrutiny of the project.Following this, CEA asked the developer to submit the updated detailed project report incorporating the change in capacity. It was also asked to include the changes suggested by the Central Water Commission in the design and engineering aspect of the project for the revised capacity. Fresh nod from the environment ministry was also required for the project following the change in capacity.With the construction work starting soon, the project is expected to be commissioned by early 2017. Ghongri HEP is a run-of-the-river scheme on River Ghongri in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The project envisages construction of two units of 72 MW each. The units expect to generate 638.71 million units of power in every 90 per cent dependable year. The total project cost has been estimated at Rs. 1231 crore.