Forest nod to hydro projects in Arunachal

The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has given its "in-principle" approval to Etalin Hydropower Project (3097 MW) on Dri and Talo rivers in Arunachal Pradesh's Dibang Valley, a "high conservation value area", according to minutes of FAC's meeting on May 26.

- Jayashree Nandi

NEW DELHI:

FAC is a statutory body under the Union environment ministry. High conservation value areas are natural habitats of significant importance due to their high biological, ecological, social or cultural worth.

FAC has also approved, in principle, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd's plan to divert 313.88 ha. of unclassed forest for construction of Tato-II Hydro Electric Project (700 MW) on Siyom river and deferred a decision on the diversion of 261.53 ha of unclassed forest for construction of Attunli Hydro Electric Project (680 MW) on Talo river in Anini to a next date. Unclassed or deemed forests enjoy protection under a Supreme Court ruling of 1996.

Tato II is in Shi Yomi district, while Etalin and Attunli projects are in the Dibang Valley.

FAC's decision on Etalin is a lifeline for a project that was scrapped in 2023 following widespread protests by local people and concerns raised by scientists about the loss of biodiversity.

At the time, FAC asked Arunachal Pradesh to submit a revised proposal addressing these concerns. The state government submitted this and it was considered by FAC in its meeting on May 26.

The Etalin hydroelectric project was proposed as a joint venture between Jindal Power and the Hydropower Development Corporation of Arunachal Pradesh but it is currently under Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd, a state-owned company.

The minutes, reviewed by HT, show most concerns related to loss of subtropical evergreen and rain forests, wildlife, and biodiversity remain. For example, they state that the project will involve felling of 2.7 lakh trees and diversion of 1175.03 ha of unclassed forest land. And that the area harbours important wildlife including the Himalayan Serow, Asiatic Golden Cat, Leopard Cat, Indian Wild Dog, Assam Macaque, Himalayan Black Bear, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Hoary Bellied Squirrel, Bengal Monitor Lizard, Burmese Python, and King Cobra.