Leadership
Minister (Power)
Shri Chowna Mein
Deputy Chief Minister & Minister for Power, Government of Arunachal Pradesh
- Father
- Late Chow Pook Gohain
- Date of Birth
- 2 December 1950, Sunpura, Namsai District
- Tribe
- Tai Khamti
- Marital Status
- Married
- Education
- B.A., J.N. Govt. College Pasighat; Honorary Ph.D., Gauhati University
- Constituency
- 46-Chowkham (ST), Namsai District
- Assumed Office
- 17 July 2016 (1st Term as DCM); 13 June 2024 (3rd Term)
Last updated: 7 March 2026
About Shri Chowna Mein
Shri Chowna Mein is the Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh and holds the portfolio of Power & Non-Conventional Energy Resources, which includes direct oversight of the Department of Hydropower Development (DHPD). He also holds the portfolios of Finance, Planning & Investment, Tax, Excise & Narcotics Control, State Lotteries, and Economics & Statistics.
Born on 2 December 1950 in Sunpura, Lohit district (now Namsai district), he belongs to the Tai Khamti community — a Scheduled Tribe of Theravada Buddhist tradition. The son of Late Chow Pook Gohain, one of the founding fathers of Arunachal Pradesh, he comes from a distinguished political family. He completed his B.A. from Jawaharlal Nehru Government College, Pasighat (Gauhati University) in 1975, and has been conferred an Honorary Ph.D. by Gauhati University.
Political Career
Shri Mein began his political career in 1995 when he was elected to the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Lekang (ST) constituency. He went on to win six consecutive elections and served in several key capacities:
- Speaker, Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (1998–1999)
- Minister for Rural Works and Development — Implemented core networking of roads and achieved record road completion across the state
- Minister for Finance and Planning — Introduced the VIDYA fixed deposit scheme for girl students and achieved a 100% increase in state revenue (2012–14) without additional taxation
- Deputy Chief Minister since July 2016 — Now serving his third consecutive term
In 2019, he shifted his constituency to Chowkham (ST) in Namsai district, winning decisively with over 82% of the vote, and was elected unopposed in the 2024 elections.
He was honoured with the Lachit Barphukan Award 2022 for his contributions to societal welfare and preservation of Tai culture.
Driving Arunachal's Hydropower Revolution
As the minister directly overseeing the Department of Hydropower Development, Shri Mein has been the driving force behind the state's hydropower ambitions. He launched the restructured DHPD 2.0 initiative with the tagline "Powering Progress, Naturally."
Key Targets Under His Leadership
| Parameter | Target |
|---|---|
| Hydropower capacity addition | 19 GW through large and mega projects |
| Total investment | Rs 1.9 lakh crore |
| State equity stake | 26% in joint venture projects |
| Revenue (2025–2035) | Rs 4,520 crore |
| Annual revenue (post-2035) | Rs 4,100 crore |
| Direct skilled jobs | 30,000+ |
| Indirect jobs | 16,000+ |
| Local area development fund | Rs 821 crore per year |
| Free power to state | 12% of generation |
The state government has declared 2025–2035 as the "Decade of Hydropower" to accelerate development in the sector. The Centre is supporting projects by financing 24% equity through Central Financial Assistance (CFA), capped at Rs 750 crore per project.
"Arunachal Pradesh accounts for nearly 40 percent of the country's hydropower potential, with 58,000 MW capacity. We must rise to this challenge."
"We are building not just power projects, but an industrial ecosystem — in harmony with nature."
Department of Hydropower Development, Arunachal Pradesh