In troubling news, 2.7 lakh trees might be cut for the Etalin Hydropower Project in Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh.
Etalin Hydro Electric Power Company Limited is a joint venture of Hydro Power Development Corporation of Arunachal Pradesh Limited with Jindal Power Limited¡ªthe developers of this project.
The said project is yet to be approved by the Environment Ministry¡¯s forest advisory committee (FAC). But it has raised a number of concerns.?
Scientists opposing the project have ¡®brought attention to the absence of an assessment on the cumulative ecological impact of the multiple large hydro-power projects that have been planned on Dibang river. The proposed 3097 MW Etalin Project and the approved 2880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project have been planned on the same limb of the river and will together result in the destruction of a major chunk of Dibang Valley¡¯, reports National Herald.?
The project location is situated in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest and subtropical rain forests which has been recognised as home to outstanding biodiversity, by the FAC itself.
However, reportedly to make up for loss the project has proposed to have compensatory plantations raised in about 25 different pieces of land in the valley itself, in the Anini town.
According to an HT report, a Wildlife Institute of India (WII) study has documented 413 plant, 159 butterfly, 113 spider, 14 amphibian, 31 reptile, 230 bird and 21 mammalian species within the project area.?
In 2019, the FAC had observed that the project falls under the richest Himalayan bio-geographical area and under one of the world¡¯s mega biodiversity hot spots.
The locals (Idu Mishmi community) and environmentalists, are concerned that the compensation plan will not be enough as it will not create equal ecological value in fragmented pieces of land since it will be artificial plantation.
The FAC met on April 23 to discuss the forest clearance but there has been no update on whether they have reached a decision yet.?