Kalai-II Hydroelectric Project Proposal

Project Overview

• THDC India Ltd has proposed a 1,200 MW hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The project involves diversion of 869.35 hectares of semi-evergreen forest in Anjaw district.
• It is planned on the Lohit river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, featuring a 128.5 m concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse.
• The total project cost is estimated at Rs 14,176.26 crore.

Environmental Concerns

• The area is a habitat for the critically endangered White-Bellied Heron.
• The species has the highest protection under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• The proposal documents submitted to the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) did not mention the species.
• A site inspection report claimed no presence of rare or endangered flora and fauna in the project area.

Compensatory Afforestation

• Proposed afforestation for forest loss in Arunachal Pradesh will occur in Madhya Pradesh.
• Arunachal is described as a "hilly and forested state" with over two-thirds forest cover.

Current Status

• The project awaits appraisal by the FAC on May 8.
• It received a recommendation for environmental clearance from the Environment Ministry’s expert appraisal committee in December.

Additional Notes

• The presence of the White-Bellied Heron was recorded upstream and downstream of the project site.
• Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department officials did not comment on the omission of the Heron's presence in the proposal.