The Expert Appraisal Committee has recommended environmental clearance for the 3,097 mw Etalin Hydroelectric Project (HEP), which is located in Dibang Valley district. The project involves the construction of two concrete gravity dams on the Dri and the Tangon (Talo) rivers.
The Etalin HEP is a run-of-the-river project, to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 30,037.36 crore by SJVN Limited.
Earlier in June, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had already given Stage-I forest clearance.
The project is set to affect 18 villages through land acquisition for various project components. Specifically, 176 families are facing involuntary displacement due to the loss of their homes. In the 18 villages, 284 project-affected families have been identified. SJVN has set aside a budgetary provision of Rs 109.53 crore for the implementation of the resettlement and rehabilitation plan. The project requires a land area of 1,175.03 hectares.
With the grant of the clearance, it’s just a matter of time before construction will begin. The effort now must be on safety and minimum damage to the environment. The hydro stations in Arunachal are not a perfect example of safety. These issues should not be repeated in the upcoming one.