Arunachal sits on plantation proposal for Subansiri hydel project, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The 2000 MW Subansiri Lower hydel project commissioned its first unit in December 2023 after a 21-year delay since its forest clearance in 2004.
• Arunachal Pradesh has yet to undertake compensatory afforestation on 31.83 sq km as required by the Environment Ministry, despite six reminders.
• The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) warned that the project's hydro-peaking could negatively impact elephant movement across the Subansiri River.
• A study to assess the impact of hydro-peaking on the elephant corridor has not yet been commissioned.

Detailed Insights:

• The Environment Ministry has sent multiple reminders to Arunachal Pradesh regarding the pending compensatory afforestation, seeking details on site identification, geo-coordinates, and implementation status.
• Construction of the Subansiri project faced prolonged stoppage from 2011 to 2019 due to local resistance in Assam and court cases concerning dam safety and ecological impact.
• The WII report highlighted that hydro-peaking, causing rapid water level increases, could disrupt elephant movement by creating flash flood-like conditions and affecting river islet vegetation.
• The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife emphasized the importance of the east-west corridor for elephant populations and cautioned against hydro-peaking during animal crossings.
• Clear felling of trees in the project's submergence area began in October 2021 and was completed by September 2023.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Compensatory Afforestation (CA): The process of planting new forests to compensate for forest area lost to development projects.
• Hydro-peaking: The practice of releasing water from a dam to generate electricity during peak demand hours, causing rapid fluctuations in downstream water levels.
• Elephant Corridor: A strip of land that facilitates the movement of elephants between different habitats, crucial for maintaining genetic diversity and population viability.