Contentious hydroelectric project gets govt nod, FAC approval awaited
NEW DELHI: The contentious Etalin hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley has been cleared by the power ministry and impact assessment division of the environment ministry and is awaiting approval of the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC).
Several environmentalists and scientists have raised concerns over the 3,097MW hydropower project as it involves the diversion of 1165.66 ha of forest land and the felling of around 2.8 lakh trees in dense subtropical evergreen and subtropical rainforests.
A four-member committee has been formed by the FAC to address all apprehensions and representations by various environmental groups on the project’s impact on wildlife and biodiversity. It has been directed to submit a report in this regard within three weeks for the FAC to decide on the forest clearance for the project, according to minutes of the FAC meeting on May 11 which have been uploaded on the environment ministry’s Parivesh website.
The Wildlife Institute of India and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) have suggested that FAC take cognisance of certain safeguards for better conservation of wildlife in the area while considering the approval for the project, the minutes said, adding that the Arunachal government is insistent on going ahead with the project.
While several environmentalists and scientists continue to write to the FAC against the project in view of its rich biodiversity and evidence of the presence of tigers here, the state has informed the committee that all concerns were examined at the state level before recommending the project for approval under the Forest Conservation Act 1980.
“Still, there are some apprehensions/representations received from some quarters concerning wildlife and other issues related to reported endemic flora and fauna of the area,” the FAC observed while recommending the constitution of a panel under the chairmanship of FAC member Sanjay Deshmukh and comprising assistant inspector general of forests, ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MOEFCC); a representative of the regional office of MOEFCC; and a representative from Arunachal Pradesh government.
The FAC also directed the constitution of a second panel under the chairmanship of a regional officer and integrated regional office of MOEFCC, Guwahati, with a nodal officer of Arunachal Pradesh as a member to visit and monitor the compliance of conditions of various forest clearance approvals for hydro-electric projects in Arunachal and submit their report within three weeks.
The proposal for the Etalin project was earlier considered by the FAC on January 28, 2015, February 28, 2017, October 17, 2019 and April 23, 2020. However, following widespread criticism by scientists and environmentalists, the committee deferred its final decision.
“We have to understand that we need clean energy in view of the climate crisis. Hydropower can provide that. India still needs to develop and energy is a must. First, we must think about the need for such a project. FAC is discussing the trade-offs and environmental impacts. We will soon have a deci sion,” an FAC member said, wish ing not to be named.