Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh

Guwahati, May 15: The 3,000MW Dibang multi-purpose project in Arunachal Pradesh seems to be doomed, as National Hydroelectric Power Corporation’s second attempt to get forest clearance for the project has not found favour with the forest advisory committee of the Union ministry of environment and forests.

The committee feels the proposed measures are still not enough to reduce the impact on the bio-diversity of the area, despite a reduction in the requirement of forestland.

A source said a decision to this effect that was taken in a meeting of the forest advisory committee on April 29-30, has now been made public.

The first proposal, in which 5,056.5 hectares of forest area was to be diverted for the project, was rejected by the committee in its meeting held on July 12 last year, as it would have an irreparable and adverse impact on the ecosystem of the area.

The project was to be located on the Dibang river in Lower Dibang Valley district of the state. The estimated cost of the project is over Rs 15,000 crore.

The corporation, in its second proposal, had reduced the forest area to be diverted to 4,577.84 hectares after being prodded by the Union power ministry.

The cabinet committee on investment last year had asked the ministry of environment and forests to grant clearance for the diversion of forest area.

The Arunachal Pradesh government in February this year said the corporation had proposed two alternatives for reduction in forest area.

It had suggested the reduction of dam height by 5 and 10 metres, which will reduce the requirement of forestland by 300 hectares and 445 hectares respectively.

The height of the dam is 288 metres.

“The reduction in dam height will lead to a reduction in power generation to the tune of 2.3 and 2 per cent respectively. It is also anticipated that the number of trees to be affected will marginally come down from 3.55 lakh to 3.24 lakh by reducing forest area to 4,577.84 hectares. After discussion with the NHPC officials stationed at Itanagar, it is revealed that NHPC may not be in a position to reduce the height of the dam, as it would significantly affect the power generation from the dam,” the committee, in its report, said.

According to the source, the committee said the revised proposal will reduce the submergence of the forest area by only 445 hectares.

This is a reduction of less than 9 per cent and the number of affected trees is marginally coming down to 3.24 lakh from 3.5 lakh.

“A marginal reduction in the requirement of the forestland may not be able to reduce the adverse impact of the project on the bio-diversity rich mature forest ecosystem. The revised proposal does not address the concerns raised by the committee in its last meeting,” the committee said in its decision.

It added that NHPC has not given any convincing justification for their stand on not reducing the dam height by more than 10 metres.

The impact of reduction in dam height on the economic feasibility of the project has not been put forward before the committee.

“The project is most likely to have considerable downstream impact, including an impact on Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Assam, which has not yet been studied,” the committee said.

The committee, quoting the site inspection report of the regional office of the ministry of environment and forests, said as the proposed diversion site is having a steep slope with patches of jhum-cultivated area, removal of trees will affect the micro- climate of the area and endemic wildlife and flora.

All the major Schedule I species like elephants, hoolock gibbons, tigers and leopards are found in the area.