Proposal for Arunachal's Kalai-II hydel project skips mentioning 'endangered bird habitat', Pg10

Key Highlights:

• THDC India Ltd proposed the 1,200 MW Kalai-II hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh, seeking clearance for diverting 869.35 hectares of forest land.
• The project, planned in Anjaw district on the Lohit river, involves a Rs 14,176.26 crore investment for a dam and underground powerhouse.
• The proposal to the Centre omits mentioning the presence of the critically endangered White-Bellied Heron, a Schedule-I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Compensatory afforestation for forest loss in Arunachal Pradesh is proposed in Madhya Pradesh.

Detailed Insights:

• The Lohit river is a known habitat for the White-Bellied Heron, and its presence has been recorded both upstream and downstream of the proposed project site.
• A joint site inspection report claimed the absence of rare or endangered flora and fauna, contradicting existing records of the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department and independent researchers.
• The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) is scheduled to appraise the project, which has already received recommendation for environmental clearance from the Environment Ministry’s expert appraisal committee.
• The Arunachal Pradesh forest department permitted compensatory afforestation in Madhya Pradesh due to the state's extensive forest cover.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Compensatory Afforestation: Reforestation efforts to compensate for forest land diverted for non-forest purposes.
• Run-of-the-River Project: A hydroelectric project that utilizes the natural flow of a river without large-scale water storage.
• Scheduled-I Species: Species that have been accorded the highest protection under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

White-bellied heron