Rapid Fire
Etalin Hydropower Project
- 12 Jun 2025
- 2 min read
The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted in‑principle forest clearance for the 3,097 MW Etalin run‑of‑the‑river hydropower project.
- Location: Etalin Hydropower Project is located in the Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, which is part of the Eastern Himalaya Global Biodiversity Hotspot, one of 36 such hotspots worldwide.
- Rivers: The project involves two gravity dams, one on the Dri River and another on the Talo (Tangon) River, both tributaries of the Dibang River (tributary of Brahmaputra).
- Environmental Impact:
- Deforestation: The project will require the felling of 270,000 trees and the diversion of over 1,100 hectares of unclassified forest land.
- It has faced persistent opposition from the indigenous Idu Mishmi community.
- Biodiversity: The region is home to 6 globally threatened mammal species, 3 of which are endangered, and 3 are vulnerable. It also harbors about 56% of India’s bird species, including 3 rare, restricted-range endemic bird species.
- The area hosts species like tigers, leopards, snow leopards, black bears, musk deer, and Mishmi takin.
- Deforestation: The project will require the felling of 270,000 trees and the diversion of over 1,100 hectares of unclassified forest land.
Run-of-the-River (ROR) Hydropower Project:
- It is a type of hydroelectric generation that utilizes the natural flow and elevation drop of a river to produce electricity, without the need for a large dam or major water storage reservoir.
FAC:
- FAC is a statutory body under MoEFCC, constituted under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
- It examines proposals for diversion of forest land for non-forest uses like mining, industrial projects, and townships, and advises the government on granting forest clearances. Its role is advisory in nature.
| Read More: Etalin Hydroelectric Project |
