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DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

GS-III :
  • 13 May, 2020

  • 8 Min Read

Ethalin hydropower project

Ethalin hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh deferred

The Forest Advisory Committee, the apex body of the Environment Ministry tasked with deciding whether forest land can be diverted for industrial projects, has once again deferred its decision on a controversial hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh.

The 3097 MW Etalin Hydropower project, in the State’s Dibang Valley, has been delayed for over six years. This is because it required diverting 1165 hectares of forest in a region of rich biodiversity.

Issue

In 2015, the FAC had ruled that the Environment Impact Assessment commissioned by the power company had not properly accounted for the environmental impact of the project.

It recommended that an “internationally credible” institute conduct studies over multiple seasons to record the region’s ecological constitution.

It had also recommended that the National Tiger Conservation Authority be consulted, because tigers had been sighted in the region.

In 2019, the FAC reviewed the progress of the environment appraisal and said neither of its recommendations had been fully complied with, though a wildlife assessment was done by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. This is an autonomous institute funded by the Environment Ministry.

River valley projects in north east India

River Valley Project

States

  • 1. Ranganadi Hydel Power Project
  • 2. Papumpap Hydel Power Project
  • 3. Dhinkrong Hydel Power Project
  • 4. Paki Hydel Power Project
  • 5. Upper Lohit Hydel Power Project
  • 6. Kameng Hydel Power Project
  • 7. Damway Hydel Power Project

Arunachal Pradesh

  • 8. Kopli Hydel Power Project

Assam

  • 9. Doyang Hydel Power Project

Nagaland

  • 10. Loktak Hydel Power Project
  • 11. Tipaimukh Hydel Power Project

Manipur

Note: It has been executed on the confluence of the rivers Barak and Tuibai in the district of Churachandpur in
Manipur. It is a disputed
project because it is being
opposed by Bangladesh.

  • 12.Dhaleshwari Hydel Power Project
  • 13."Tuirial Hydel Power Project
  • 14.Tuibai Hydel Power Project

Mizoram

  • 15. Rangit Hydel Power Project

Sikkim

Source: TH


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