Time lost in litigation gives Arunachal project 11-year extension of green clearance, Pg15

Key Highlights:

• The Demwe Lower Project, a 1,750 MW hydroelectric project on the Lohit River in Arunachal Pradesh, has received an 11-year extension of its environmental clearance (EC) until 2037.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change's expert panel granted the extension due to time lost in litigation, citing a combination of notifications and a key October 2025 office memorandum (OM).
• The project faced legal challenges, including an NGT ruling that set aside its wildlife clearance due to potential impacts on the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Assam.
• The project involves the construction of a 162.12 m tall concrete gravity dam, diversion of 1,416 hectares of forest land, and submergence of 1,589.97 hectares.

Detailed Insights:

• The expert appraisal committee (EAC) relied on a 2025 office memorandum (OM) that treats time lost in litigation as 'zero period', but overlooked that the NGT had struck down the project's wildlife clearance.
• Prior to the 2025 OM, projects that did not commence work within the EC's validity period were to be considered 'de novo' for EC grant, but the 'zero period' dispensation was introduced to reduce delays.
• The project's EC, originally granted in February 2010, was extended based on a 2022 notification that holds ECs for hydel projects valid for 13 years and a Covid-period relaxation of one year.
• The Lohit basin and Kamlang Tiger Reserve, upstream of the project, are crucial habitats for the critically endangered White-Bellied Heron, but the January 2026 meeting did not discuss biodiversity.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Environmental Clearance (EC): A process ensuring projects comply with environmental regulations before commencement.
• Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC): A committee that assesses the environmental impact of projects.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT): A tribunal that handles environmental disputes.