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Source: The post is based on the article “Temporary relief as plan for Etalin hydel in Arunachal junked” published in Down To Earth on 19th January 2023.
What is the News?
The proposed Etalin hydroelectric project in Arunachal Pradesh has been scrapped in its present form.
What is the Etalin Hydroelectric Project?
Etalin Hydroelectric Project is envisaged as a run-of-the-river scheme on rivers Dri and Tangon in the Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh.
– Note: Dir and Tangon are both tributaries of the Dibang River (tributary of Brahmaputra).
It was proposed to be developed as a joint venture between Jindal Power Ltd and the Hydropower Development Corporation of Arunachal Pradesh Ltd.
What are the concerns related to the Etalin Hydroelectric Project?
Environmental concerns: The project will require the diversion of 1,165.66 hectares of forest land and the felling of more than 280,000 trees in the area.
– The Forest Advisory Committee(FAC) highlighted that the land in which the project is proposed covers two pristine forests with riverine growth that, once cut, cannot be replaced.
Displacement of people: The project would displace thousands of people from their homes and livelihoods, many of whom are from indigenous communities who rely on those rivers for their livelihoods.
Seismic Risks: The South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) highlighted the geological and seismic risks and threats to biodiversity in 2015 when environmental clearance (EC) for the project was underway.
