Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommends environmental clearance for Kalai-II hydroelectric project

Key facts

• The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommended environmental clearance for the 1,200-MW Kalai-II hydroelectric project on the Lohit River in Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw.
• The project, to be developed by THDC India Ltd at an estimated cost of Rs 14,176.26 crore, involves the construction of a 128.5-m concrete gravity dam and an underground powerhouse.
• The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report prepared by WAPCOS Ltd failed to mention the white-bellied heron, a Schedule-I species under the Wildlife Protection Act.
• The white-bellied heron is listed as critically endangered on the Red List of the International Union on Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• The bird’s population in Arunachal Pradesh is found in the Lohit, Anjaw, and Changlang districts, including the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Namdapha Tiger Reserve.