Expert committee nod for 2,200-MW Oju hydel project near China border, Pg9.

Key Highlights:

• Expert panel recommends environmental clearance for the 2,220 MW Oju hydroelectric project on the Subansiri river near the China border.
• The Oju project will be the largest among the cascade of hydel projects planned in the Subansiri basin.
• Project requires diversion of 750 hectares of forest land, submerging around 43 hectares, and displacing nine families.
• Public hearing for the project was held in August at Redi village.

Detailed Insights:

• The Oju hydel project is located in Taksing in Upper Subansiri district, and is the uppermost of several planned hydroelectric projects in the region.
• Other hydro projects planned in the Subansiri basin include Niare, Naba, Nalo, Dengser, Upper Subansiri and Lower Subansiri.
• An environmental activist raised concerns that the cumulative impact assessment study on the Subansiri river basin was completed in 2014 and needs updating.
• The expert appraisal committee acknowledged that the data used in the studies was over 10 years old but accepted submissions made by the project proponent.
• The main power plant will have a capacity of 2,100 MW, while the dam-toe plant will have a capacity of 120MW.
• A detailed glacial lake flood assessment was conducted, but the panel emphasized that design flood estimation should include glacial lake flood scenarios.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Environmental Clearance: Permission granted by a regulatory body for a project after assessing its potential environmental impact.
• Hydroelectric Project: A facility that generates electricity by using the power of moving water.
• Cumulative Impact Assessment: Evaluation of the combined environmental effects of multiple projects in a specific area.