In a major policy shift, the Environment Ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has granted in-principle forest clearance to the 3,097-MW Etalin hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley. This decision greenlights the diversion of 1,175 hectares of forest land and the felling of around 2.78 lakh trees, despite strong ecological concerns previously flagged by the FAC itself in 2022.

The Etalin project, one of India’s largest proposed hydel ventures, has faced resistance from environmental groups and the indigenous Idu Mishmi community. The forest area is home to several endangered species including tigers, snow leopards, black bears, and over 680 bird species. In 2022, the FAC had rejected the proposal, citing inadequate biodiversity studies and recommending a multi-seasonal assessment, which was not conducted.

However, the committee approved the project based on existing reports, including a Wildlife Institute of India (WII) study.

While the project will be a run-of-the-river type with no reservoir storage, concerns remain about its cumulative impact on the ecologically sensitive Dibang basin, where multiple hydel projects are planned.