1,000 MW Hydel Project Near China Border Gets Green Light: Strategic Energy Push
NEW DELHI: In a significant development for renewable energy and border infrastructure, a Union environment ministry expert panel has recommended environmental clearance for the 1,000 MW Naying hydro-electric project in Arunachal Pradesh, located close to the India-China border. The clearance, granted with conditions, paves the way for other statutory approvals and eventual construction of the run-of-the-river project across the Siyom river in Siang and Shi-Yomi districts.
The project, estimated to cost Rs 11,835 crore, will be developed by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) over 470 hectares. It is expected to substantially boost renewable energy generation in the region, aligning with India's goals of increasing clean energy capacity and enhancing energy security along its northern borders.
The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change approved the environmental clearance in its 57th meeting held on June 29-30, subject to mandatory conditions. The clearance had been pending for an extended period.
While the project will affect 12 villages through land acquisition for various components, the committee accepted the project proponent's detailed relief and rehabilitation plan for displaced families. The approval stipulates that land acquired must be compensated in accordance with state government guidelines and the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The project proponent will now need to obtain forest clearance under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1986, if applicable. The minutes of the meeting, released Monday, noted that no project component falls within any notified protected area.
The Naying project is part of a series of hydropower developments in Arunachal Pradesh, which aims to generate over 50,000 MW of hydropower. Its proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China adds a strategic dimension, as such projects contribute to infrastructure development and energy self-reliance in border regions.
Environmental groups have previously raised concerns about the ecological impact of large dams in the ecologically sensitive Eastern Himalayas, including effects on biodiversity, river flow, and seismic risks. The conditional clearance includes stipulations for environmental management and monitoring.
