Wildlife institute all for hydel projects in Arunachal tiger zone

Wildlife institute all for hydel projects in Arunachal tiger zone

News:

Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has cleared the way for two proposed mega hydel power projects in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley and Lohit districts

Facts:

• The move by the WII comes at a time when a three-year survey conducted by the WII’s own researchers reported sightings of tigers in the high-altitude forests of the Dibang Valley.
• WII was asked by Environment Ministry to conduct a hydrology/ecology for Etalin hydel project which is jointly developed by Jindal Power and the Arunachal government and National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) was asked to conduct study for Lower Demwe hydel project in Lohit district.

Additional Facts:

• Wildlife Institute of India (WII)
  • Established in 1982 as an attached office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Subsequently, it was granted autonomous status in 1986
  • It is an internationally acclaimed Institution, which offers training program, academic courses and advisory in wildlife research and management.
  • It carries research in areas of Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Wildlife Policy, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Forensics, Spatial Modelling, Eco-development, Habitat Ecology, Climate Change, Forensics, Remote Sensing and GIS, Laboratory, Herbarium, and an Electronic Library are the spheres of research too.
• National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
  • Due to the rapid decline in wildlife population, the Government of India during 1952 had constituted an advisory body designated as the Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL)
  • As per the amendment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in 2002, a provision was incorporated for the constitution of the National Board for Wildlife, replacing the Indian Board for Wildlife.
  • National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory Board constituted in 2003.
  • The Indian Board for Wildlife is chaired by the Prime Minister.