New Delhi: Overruling members of a high-power committee on wildlife, Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan has given the green signal for construction of a mega hydel project in Arunachal Pradesh on Lohit river, which originates from China.
In its recent meeting, members of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) had opposed giving environmental clearance to the 1,750 MW Demwe Lower Hydro Electric project arguing that it would have a serious impact on the ecology, wildlife and also the livelihood of people living upstream and downstream in neighbouring Assam.
Using her discretionary power as Chairperson of the NBWL Standing Committee, the Minister accorded wildlife-related clearance to the project, which the state government described as “vital for Arunachal Pradesh’s water and energy security.”
Recommending the project on behalf of the Standing Committee of NBWL, Natarajan said the project should be in accordance with relevant orders of the Supreme Court and directions of the National Environmental Appellate Authority. Sources said that the Prime Minister’s office was in favour of giving green clearance to the project, as demanded by the state government.
Strongly supporting the project, Arunachal Pradesh government officials, who were present at the NBWL meeting held in December last year, had said that “Lohit river flows through Tibet and is not limited to Indian Himalayas only”– an indication that China could also build a dam on the river.The sources said that the thinking in the government is that if the dam is built without any delay, the people of the state would get “first user rights” as per international norms. (PTI)