Guwahati, Feb. 22: The Centre has given environmental clearance to the biggest hydel power project in the country, the Etalin hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh, a move, which is expected to expedite development of hydel power in the region.

The minutes of the second meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects held on January 30 and 31, which was made public yesterday, said environmental clearance has been given to the project with some conditions.

The 3,097MW project, located in Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, envisages two dams - a 101.5metre high dam on Dir river near Yuron village, about 22km from Etalin and a 80metre tall dam on Tangon river, about 800 metres downstream of Anon Pani confluence with Tangon river. The Dri and Tangon rivers are tributaries of the Dibang.

The project is being executed by Etalin Hydro-Electric Power Company Limited, a joint venture of Jindal Power Limited and Hydro Power Development Corporation of Arunachal Pradesh Limited.

"This is the biggest hydel power project coming up in the country and the forest clearance should be coming up in due course," a spokesman for Jindal Steel and Power said.

The construction of the project can only begin once the forest clearance comes.

The Centre has been trying its best to expedite clearances for hydel projects in the Northeast and a number of steps have been taken to expedite implementation.

The total land requirement for the project is 1,155.11 hectares and the submergence area is 119.44 hectares. A total of 18 villages, consisting 285 families are to be affected by the proposed project. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 25,296.95 crore and it is scheduled to be completed in seven years. The distance of the site from the boundary of the notified forest area (Dibang wildlife sanctuary) is nearly 12km.

The EAC had mandated that the carrying capacity studies and cumulative impact assessment of Dibang river basin study in Arunachal Pradesh have to be done before the project gets clearance.

The company has committed that adequate free flow of river stretch will be maintained. The committee said the outcome and recommendations of Dibang river basin study will have to be fully abided by the company, plastic waste shall be disposed of by recycling and not by land filling, local indigenous varieties of plants to be grown and maintained till their full growth, including gap filling.

The other conditions are that landowners who were impacted by the project shall be suitably compensated with the prevailing guidelines and all commitments made during the public hearing shall be fulfilled, skill mapping undertaken for youths of the affected project area and based on the skill mapping, the training to the youths must be incorporated for their appropriate engagement in the project.